Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on meetings, or contact, he has had with the new Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs. [8250/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister report on any contact, letters or meetings that have taken place between him and the Greek Government and its Minister for Foreign Affairs, considering that that country faces the same plight as this country faced in its battle against austerity with the EU, the ECB and the troika?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 27 January 2015, Nikos Kotzias was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece. I have held no formal meeting with the Minister since his appointment. I spoke briefly to him on the margins of the extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 29 January, when I wished him well in his new and challenging role. I look forward to working closely and constructively with him in this context.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is absolutely unbelievable. The Greek Government came to power with a massive mandate from the people of Greece and all the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has done is had a chat at a meeting with them and wished them well. Is it not the case that, in reality, the Minister has not really wished them well? Instead of giving support for and showing solidarity with people who faced the same fate as we faced, the Irish Government has acted disgracefully and, in effect, has thrown the Greek people under a bus?

In 2010, the previous Government received a letter from Mr. Jean-Claude-Trichet which was very similar to the gun that was put to the heads of the people of Greece last week. I will read one extract from the letter: "But all these considerations have implications for the assessment of the solvency of the institutions which are currently receiving ELA. It is the position of the governing council that it is only if we receive, in writing, a commitment from the Irish Government vis-à-visthe euro system on the four following points that we can authorise further provisions. The Irish Government should send a request for financial support to the Eurogroup." So it goes on. In other words: "Go into a bailout programme or we will take no notice of this Government." Does the Minister agree that that is very similar to the fate that has met the Greek people?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that this is a matter primarily for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, who has been actively engaged, along with his European colleagues, in dealing with the current situation in Greece. I confirm that there is solidarity in Europe, and indeed in Ireland, in terms of assisting the Greek Government and its people, and this was shown by the Eurogroup agreement on Friday to extend the programme. We fully empathise with the new Government's commitment to provide a social package to help the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of Greek society.

It is true to say that the people of Greece have suffered much more than the people of Ireland. The 25% of the Greek workforce who are unemployed have no access to social assistance after 12 months and they then have to live as best they can. The new Government in Greece is committed to tackling this problem, and eurozone members do not have a difficulty with this important social policy objective. The meetings of EU finance Ministers in the Eurogroup and at ECOFIN offer the correct forum for the Greek Government to bring forward such proposals relating to the restructuring of the Greek debt.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is it not the case that what has taken place is, in effect, a silent coup against a democratically elected Government with a huge mandate from its people? In effect, what was said was: "We will bring down your banking system if you do not comply and agree to impose austerity against the mandate on which you were elected." There is a tug of war taking place in Greece at the moment with the EU and the troika, acting on behalf of the markets, the bankers and the capitalist system itself, versus the workers, the unemployed and the poor of Greece who have faced a humanitarian crisis over the past six years. On 15 February, 100,000 people rallied in support of their Government and it is now necessary for people on the left to mobilise support for the Greek working class and to be prepared to implement things like capital controls and public ownership of the banks and other key industries in Greece to bring about a fair and just society for the masses of Greece.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I believe the most appropriate fora for engagement and negotiation are the meetings of the EU finance Ministers, ECOFIN. This was where Ireland was successful in achieving savings in the past through negotiations such as the extension of maturities, the deal on the promissory notes and, most recently, the early repayment of loans to the International Monetary Fund. Like all member states, the Irish Government wants to see a resolution which can help the people of Greece, which is also in the interests of the European taxpayer. The Irish taxpayer, as the Deputy will be aware, has invested €347 million as part of the Greek programme. From our perspective, the resolution of this issue will happen through negotiation and engagement and I would urge all parties to recommit themselves in that regard.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Seán Kyne, who was to ask Question No. 8, is not present, so we will take Question No. 9.