Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2012
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if, at EU Council Finance Ministers’ meetings, the need for recognition for the vulnerability of those member states in a programme or bailout situation has been recognised with a view to ensuring that individual Ministers do not jeopardise such countries and their economies for domestic political reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Ireland’s implementation of the EU/IMF Programme has been recognised and indeed lauded both at the ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings. There has been an all-round acknowledgement of our commitment to the Programme which has ensured that all the conditions have been met at each quarterly review. We too, repeatedly acknowledge the support we get from other member states. Of course it is in the best interests of Europe generally that those member states in Programmes do all in their power to implement the conditions of that Programme in order to emerge successfully from it. At the ECOFIN and Eurogroup meetings, regular updates are sought and given as to Programme implementation and Member States’ contributions are helpful and supportive. There is a very keen awareness, by Member States, of the difficulties faced by programme countries, and the efforts being made are well recognised and acknowledged.
