Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien regarding the leaking of this important report, for which we waited a long time. I appeared on local radio this morning with a colleague of Senator Darragh O'Brien and I was in full agreement with him on the appalling nature of the leaking of the report. I described it as treason to do that to our democracy. The most appropriate place to have debates on these types of reports, which are paid for by the taxpayer, is the Houses of the Oireachtas. I fully agree with the sentiments of Senator Darragh O'Brien. The person who leaked it should be sacked and jailed.

I commend the EU Foreign Ministers for agreeing an arrangement for Greece. The Greek situation will help us and gifts will come indirectly from Greece. We will benefit and I know the Minister for Finance has a well thought out, focused strategy to ensure the crippling bank debt of this country will be dealt with effectively.

I have complete confidence in his ability to do that. He is charting the most difficult waters we have ever had to endure and he is doing a remarkable job. International confidence in the country is impressive. The export industry is flourishing and doing extremely well and the positive signs for the future are impressive. We see movement in the aviation industry in Shannon, with the removal of the authority of the Dublin Airport Authority over Shannon and the prospect of combining Shannon Development and Shannon Airport, with an aviation brief.

There are many positive signs and we need to start talking up the country a little more.