Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Feb 2013

The following motion was moved by Deputy Shane Ross on Tuesday, 5 February 2013:

"That Dáil Éireann:

in view of the imminent danger of Ireland's humiliation in the negotiations with the European Central Bank over the Anglo Irish Bank promissory notes, calls on the Government to:

— make a public declaration that Ireland is unwilling to, and will not, pay the €3.1 billion payment due on 31 March;

— assert that the debt is not the moral obligation of the Irish people; and

— demand from the European Central Bank that a prerequisite to a settlement of the promissory note issue will require a negotiated write-down of the debt embracing fair sharing of the burden across the eurozone.”

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

"recognises the importance of completing an agreement on the issue of the promissory notes before the next scheduled payment on 31 March 2013;

recognises that the current negotiation approach is the best course of action in order to achieve agreement with our European partners; and

notes that the Government will continue in its negotiations with the European Central Bank to achieve the best possible outcome for the Irish taxpayer."

-(Minister of State at the Department of Finance)