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EU Commission Reports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Questions (132)

Micheál Martin

Question:

118 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance his views regarding another report of the EU Commission being leaked in the Bundestag; his views that this is damaging to persons’ confidence in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13486/12]

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Written answers

I wish to make clear that I and my colleagues in Government are deeply concerned that draft confidential information on the Irish economy became public for a second time earlier this year and at the manner in which this information was put into the public domain. As the Deputy will be aware, this information was contained in a European Commission document. However, it is still disappointing. We are in a Programme of financial support with the EU and the IMF. As part of this Programme, reports are prepared on Ireland by the Commission. As the European Commission's Dublin representative said "Commission staff strive to ensure that reports are prepared with the utmost accuracy and that confidentiality is preserved in advance of publication".

Following each review mission by the external partners, the Irish authorities agree updated Programme documents, specifically the Letters of Intent, the Memorandum of Understanding on Specific Economic Policy Conditionality, the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies and the Technical Memorandum of Understanding. These are discussed between the partners and authorities in draft format before being signed and published.

On becoming aware of the recent leak, and the internal Commission process that they have in place my officials have again raised our serious concerns with the Commission.

I also again contacted Commissioner Olli Rehn to express my disappointment regarding the leak and to enquire about steps taken to ensure confidentiality of documents in the future. The issue has also been raised at senior official level with the German authorities. We must nevertheless recognise that we remain in a Programme, and continue to rely on the support of the External Partners. In expressing our concern, we need also to continue working with our partners.

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