Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, to the House to discuss this important issue.

Reference was made to the joint communiqué issued by the Taoiseach and Chancellor Merkel at the weekend. It was the source of much media commentary, including by fellow politicians in both Houses. In the communiqué, the commitment of 29 June by the Eurogroup to examine Irish bank debt with a view to further improving the sustainability of the bailout programme was reaffirmed. The reality is not in accord with what those in opposition, specifically the leader of Fianna Fáil, said on this matter. The recent political poll has gone somewhat to the head of the leader of Fianna Fáil because he missed the point entirely. This matter concerns Chancellor Merkel's statement on the Spanish debt. I would have believed that an experienced leader such as Deputy Martin, who was a Minister in previous Administrations, would at least have analysed the document issued by Chancellor Merkel before he dived in to make his comments. However, the chance to engage in political opportunism is never lost on Deputy Martin. The reality remains that what one leader said at a press conference and what 27 agreed to do at the formal European Council meeting are different. The joint communication cleared that up. Ireland is a special case and it is meeting its commitments. The Eurogroup will take this into account.

While there is concern over the pace of movement on a debt deal, most politicians in the Oireachtas understand that trying to achieve consensus among the member states takes time. For this reason, I welcome the deadline of 1 January 2013 for the setting up of a framework that will give the ECB power to intervene regarding any of the eurozone's 6,000 banks. This is a considerable development and should safeguard Europe and its citizens from having to endure again a crisis as difficult as the one we are experiencing.

I offer the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, my sincere best wishes in the negotiations that will take place, especially on legacy debt and the promissory note. While it is easy for the Opposition to criticise and trivialise the pace of negotiation, it will be well aware that negotiations and agreement, especially an agreement as sensitive as the one in question, take time.

I spent almost seven years as a member of the Committee of the Regions, the local government arm of the European project. I noted at first hand the difficulties that arose when dealing with such a large body of representatives, now representing 27 states, and the concerns over the slow pace of negotiation on issues pertaining largely to local government. The fiscal crisis is the most significant issue that the European Union has ever been required to deal with and the people we are sending to negotiate, including the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, know what they are doing and will do a good job. They are doing a good job.

I find it very difficult to accept the criticism coming from the main Opposition party given that, just some years ago, that same party landed this country in its current circumstances. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Ministers are forging very important alliances across Europe with countries and partners who are sympathetic to the Irish cause. This was evident on Monday in the outcome of the meeting between the Taoiseach and President Hollande. Just yesterday, the Taoiseach was named European of the year. The award will be made at an event to be attended by more than 100 political journalists, representing approximately 120 publications. I hope that, after this kind of development, there will be deeper understanding among the German electorate of Ireland's special position, as referred to in June.

The Minister of State's outline as to what will happen was brief because she did not have time to go through everything. However, I welcome most sincerely the efforts that will be made by the Government during its Presidency, particularly through the conferences on youth employment and mobility. I welcome also the efforts to fix, once and for all, the debt problem in the State and across Europe.

On the last occasion on which the Minister of State was in this House, I spoke about the upcoming Presidency, which is now much closer. I emphasised to her that, during our last Presidency in 2004, there was a disgraceful display of largesse and a waste of money. Wealth was being flaunted by driving around in fleets of Mercedes cars, for example. I do not want to see that in the next six months. I ask the Minister of State to bring this message back to those who are organising the six month Presidency. Respect should be had for the current circumstances of the country. Delegates who are brought here should be given an Irish welcome and treated properly, but the noses of the citizens of Ireland should not be stuck into this.