Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reject the Deputy's speculative comments on leaks from the Eurogroup. The Minister for Finance has been consistently very clear in his support for growth-related proposals from Greece. I attended the meeting last night with the Prime Minister and other leaders from the eurozone countries. The feeling at the meeting was unanimous that there should not be, under any circumstances, an exit by Greece from the eurozone. Leaders, as they have done previously, were very clear in their support, encouragement and assistance for the Greek Prime Minister and his Government.

The Prime Minister spoke very positively about the current situation and said the new proposals on the table from Greece went very much in the right direction towards meeting the principles, objectives and targets set by the institutions. Clearly, there is a gap between them at the moment but the Prime Minister was very clear that it is his intention to be able to come to a conclusion on these negotiations this week so that the matter can be dealt with and Greece can continue to be a strong member of the eurozone. He referred to pensions, early retirement, reduction of debt and the issues his Government had put on the table. The institutions responded to that in a way that today and tonight, in respect of the both the principals of the institutions and two Government Ministers from Greece, conference calls, as necessary, be put in place so that discussions can conclude on this matter.

The outcome of this has to be fair, make economic sense and be sustainable from a financial point of view. The Prime Minister was very clear that he wants his country to be able to pay its way and contribute but under no circumstances to leave the eurozone. The Deputy wants to continue speculating, which is his prerogative. I will give him a direct report from the meeting of all of the leaders of the countries in the eurozone, including the contribution from the Prime Minister of Greece and his summing up afterwards. Everybody hopes that this matter can be dealt with by the weekend.

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