Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is again ascribing views to me which I do not hold and which I have never held. My objective in negotiating on behalf of Ireland at the Eurogroup is to ensure the Eurogroup is preserved and there is no threat to the euro as the currency of the 19 countries in the group. I have stated on several occasions that I want Greece to remain as a constituent of the Eurogroup and continue with the euro as its currency. The present state of play, as I outlined, is that the Government has introduced proposals arising from the aide-mémoirepresented after the meeting in Berlin, with which the Deputy is familiar. It has made a number of proposals, principally with regard to VAT increases, increased contributions for pensions, increases in corporation tax from 26% to 29%, and various structural measures.

It seems to me that there is a good basis now for a negotiation but an awful lot of detail must be gone into in the next 24 hours to 48 hours. I hope that will proceed. If an agreement is reached - if the negotiations conclude in an agreement - Greece will continue in the euro, and that is one of my primary objectives.

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