Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Both Deputies mentioned flexibility. Flexibility has always been shown. However, flexibility does not mean one set of proposals by Greece must be accepted. The Greek Government is not being flexible. I am very pleased, as always, with the debate, although it would be better if we had more time. I am pleased to be involved. Last week, I accompanied the Taoiseach to the meeting. I thank the Deputies for their contributions, much of which concerned Greece. The Taoiseach very clearly said the door remains open to dialogue, very much in a spirit of solidarity and responsibility. We want to reach a mutually acceptable agreement which will return Greece to growth, which is our objective, within the eurozone. We anxiously await the outcome of this evening's Eurogroup conference call and any proposals that come from it will require technical assessment by the institutions and governments.

I reject any assertion that our approach is not one of compassion and solidarity with the Greek people. We came through the challenge of a programme and understand better than most that sacrifices have real impacts on people's lives and livelihoods. The Greek people have already gone through significant sacrifice, which should not be in vain. In negotiations to date, there has been a real effort to find a way forward which takes account of the Greek situation. The priorities of the Greek Government must be to stimulate growth and there must be an understanding that certain existing parameters and commitments must be respected if a solution is to be found.

The European Council wrapped up this year's European Semester process, which is one of economic policy co-ordination and is being advanced on the basis of three main pillars, namely, boosting investment, implementing structural reform and pursuing fiscal responsibility. The European Council also generally endorsed the 2015 country-specific recommendations, CSRs. These CSRs were the product of the European Semester process and will be taken forward through the various national budgetary systems through the months ahead, culminating in our budget in October. The European Council also welcomed the agreement reached this month on the regulation underpinning the new European fund for strategic investments, EFSI, and called for its rapid implementation. We very much hope this fund, known more broadly as the Juncker investment package, achieves its objective of continuing to stimulate growth, which we are seeing across the EU.

Following a tasking by the October 2014 Euro summit, President Juncker, with the Presidents of the Euro summit, the ECB, Eurogroup and the European Parliament, presented an important report on completing economic and monetary union. The report was published last Monday, and given that a significant amount of time was allocated to discussing Greece, there was not a very detailed discussion of it. The conclusions note the report and ask for its rapid examination by the European Council. Ireland is analysing the implications of measures outlined in the report which proposes a range of actions over a two-year horizon followed by a phase of more far-reaching reforms. There is much we can support in it, including measures aimed at better addressing the overall fiscal and economic stance of the eurozone. We very much favour a pragmatic and gradual approach to EMU reform which focuses in the first instance on steps that can be taken more effectively to implement existing instruments. Ireland intends to participate fully in debate and reflection on the issue in relevant Council formations over the coming period and I hope there will be a good and broad debate in Ireland on the issue, which is important to our national interest and will present some challenging questions. I thank everyone for participating in the debate.

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