Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

If the Minister of State wants to say the way the Opposition parties have acted recently is regrettable in the extreme, she should recall her party's position in opposition 12 months ago. The fact is the Government has not burned any bondholders. It is Frankfurt's way, not Labour's. The Government misled the electorate. It must pay the price for this by being in government which means it must make hard decisions.

A team of senior officials drawn from a range of Departments were involved in the negotiations. Will the Minister of State confirm a number of representatives from the Attorney General's office advised the team on the treaty on stability, co-ordination and governance in the economic and monetary union? Will she confirm the treaty has been geared towards ensuring a referendum will not take place here?

I understand the Attorney General may give her recommendation to the Government this week. It is, however, a recommendation - her view and it must be borne in mind that she was appointed because of her political affiliations like all Attorneys General. It will be the Government's final decision.