Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Tánaiste. We support his continuing strong stance on Palestinian statehood and the two-state approach. I would like to hear his views on the continuing illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories with which the Israeli Government seems hell bent on proceeding.

With regard to the EU fiscal consolidation treaty, will the Tánaiste clarify whether the Government sought any type of debt write-down? On 24 January the Taoiseach said:

We will pay our way. We have never looked for a debt write-down ... ".

Yet yesterday evening the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, said the Government had fought hard for a debt write-down. Who is telling the truth?