Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
104. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on discussions held with his European Union counterparts following the "No" vote in the Greek referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28375/15]
View answerOn Monday of last week, I held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna during his visit to Dublin. These discussions included the situation in Greece.
Both I and Minister Shetyna agreed on the importance, following the referendum, of the Greek Government resuming negotiations with fellow Member States in an effort to reach an agreement and provide certainty for the Greek people. I underlined the point that from an Irish perspective, the door remained open, and that we wanted to support the Greek Government in developing a programme and a strategy that would keep Greece in the Eurozone. I noted that there had been a real effort to find a way forward taking into account the situation in Greece as well as the existing parameters and commitments that must be respected.
Following the referendum, Finance Ministers of the euro area Member States (the Eurogroup) and Heads of State or Government of the euro area Member States (Euro Summit) have met.
The leaders have agreed in principle that they are ready to start negotiations on an ESM financial assistance programme for Greece.
