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Dáil Éireann Vol. 759 Wednesday, No. 2 14 March 2012 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Dé Céadaoin, 14 Márta 2012. Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 399 Order of Business ……………………………… 406 Visit of United States of America Delegation …………………… 416 Order of Business (resumed)……………………………417 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: First Stage ……………… 422 Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 (Amendment) Bill 2012: First Stage 422 Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Bill 2012: First Stage …………… 423 Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licenses) Bill 2012: Financial Resolution …………… 423 Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Order for Second Stage …………………………… 423 Second Stage ……………………………… 423 Ceisteanna — Questions Minister for Defence Priority Questions …………………………… 441 Other Questions …………………………… 451 Topical Issue Matters ……………………………… 466 Topical Issue Debate Broadcasting Legislation …………………………… 467 Post Office Network …………………………… 468 Community Care ……………………………… 472 Hospital Services ……………………………… 475 Clotting Factor Concentrates and Other Biological Products Bill 2012: Second Stage (resumed) and Subsequent Stages……………………………… 477 Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011: Order for Report Stage …………………………… 490 Report and Final Stages …………………………… 490 Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licenses) Bill 2012: Message from Select Sub-Committee ……………………… 505 Private Members’ Business Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (resumed)……………………505 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 537 DÁIL ÉIREANN ———— Dé Céadaoin, 14 Márta 2012. Wednesday, 14 March 2012. ———— Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10.30 a.m. ———— Paidir. Prayer. ———— Leaders’ Questions Deputy Micheál Martin: In the past few weeks there have, to say the least, been mixed messages from the Government in regard to Ireland’s obligations on the promissory note issue. As the Taoiseach knows, the promissory note mechanism was created and agreed as banks were not allowed to fail. Depositors needed to be protected and no other European Union facility existed at the time to facilitate the recapitalisation of banks. There is no doubt that fairness and justice require Ireland gets a fairer deal on the restructur- ing of its bank debt. However, in the past number of weeks up to six Government Ministers, including the Taoiseach, have been to the fore in upping the stakes and raising expectations. Most notable was the intervention of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, in the Financial Times where she clearly linked a deal on the promissory note to the forthcoming referendum. Whether the Taoiseach likes it, that link has now been embedded in the public mind because of that intervention and those of others. There is no doubt the ECB read the article with considerable interest. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, told The Wall Street Journal some time ago that a deal would be struck in the next few weeks and before the repayment deadline of 31 March. Media reports, undoubtedly led by Government sources, have referred to the Government still being hopeful of a deal on the promissory note before the end of March. Yesterday, Commissioner Olli Rehn very unambiguously said such a move would be unacceptable. His stance mirrors that of the ECB, it would appear, which is also resisting any delay in payment. We were led to believe that the Governor of the Irish Central Bank would raise the issue with the ECB, only to be told afterwards it would not. The Taoiseach uses what has become a well worn phrase, namely: “Paddy likes to know.” With the greatest of respect, Paddy does not know what is going on in regard to this issue. An Ceann Comhairle: Maybe Paddy would put his question. Deputy Micheál Martin: Could the Taoiseach confirm to the House what exactly he has been looking for? Has the Government formally sought a deal that would involve, for example, extending the obligation over 30 years? Is it seeking a write-down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank? I ask the Taoiseach to answer those basic questions. Can he confirm that the commentary by the Minister, Deputy Burton, in the Financial Times led to the ECB pulling 399 Leaders’ 14 March 2012. Questions [Deputy Micheál Martin.] down the shutters on any deal on this issue? Can he confirm to the House that the Government will pay the money due on 31 March? The Taoiseach: What is required is a period of calmness and patience. As the Deputy is aware, I have been very clear from the outset. The troika, in its analysis of Ireland meeting its conditions of the memorandum of understanding, undertook to provide a troika paper in regard to the promissory note and its consequences. Discussions have been ongoing with officials for quite some time in the troika. It is a complex and technical issue. There are quite a number of moving parts. I have been clear to the Deputy, in respect of his questions, that there is a requirement to allow negotiations to proceed. I have never set a timeline on them. The matters under dis- cussion are completely separate from the fiscal stability treaty in respect of which the people will be asked to vote in due course. I always take the view, as I am sure the Deputy does, that when negotiations about a matter as sensitive and complex as this are ongoing they should be allowed to run their course. For that reason I have been very careful not to raise expectations, insert time limits or stray outside the confines of what is being negotiated. I have noted the comments made. The Deputy can take it from me that the Government has sought greater flexibility in respect of the legacy debt it and our people inherited in the negotiations. It is for that reason that the negotiations are ongoing. Deputy Martin is also aware that not only has Ireland met all its conditions but has exceeded them in a number of areas. Deputy Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach did not answer the question I asked. Has the Govern- ment formally sought a deal that would involve extending the obligation over 30 years or is it seeking a write down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank? It is technical, complex and sensitive, but boils down to that fundamental question. The Opposition cannot be accused of raising expectations. The only people who have raised expectations are Government Ministers competing with each other on what this is about, what will happen before the end of March and linking it to the fiscal compact treaty. No one on this side of the House has raised expectations. Cabinet Ministers are speaking left, right and centre to whoever it will listen to them and are saying different things about a deal being imminent. With the greatest of respect, I do not believe the Taoiseach needs me to tell anybody here to calm down. Perhaps he should tell his Cabinet members to speak with one voice if it is his view that negotiations should be allowed to run their course. He should say this to his Ministers. An Ceann Comhairle: Could we have a question please? Deputy Micheál Martin: They should shut up and allow the negotiations to run their course, if this is what the Taoiseach wants. He should not be messing around over this issue. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the paper will be published? Has he sought an extension of the obligation over 30 years or is he seeking a write-down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank? The Taoiseach: Deputy Martin seems to have forgotten his days in the Department of Foreign Affairs. When negotiations take place, one does not give a conclusion before it is arrived at. Deputy Mattie McGrath: The Taoiseach should tell his Cabinet that. 400 Leaders’ 14 March 2012. Questions The Taoiseach: Let me say as Head of Government and Taoiseach that Ireland is involved in negotiations within the troika in respect of the promissory notes because of the scale of the legacy debt. I am not going to tell the House the particular issues that arise or the nature of the discussions taking place because the negotiations are far too sensitive and technical, and they are very complex. Deputy Micheál Martin: The Government is telling everybody else, however. Every morning on the front page of The Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner, Ministers are saying, “Here is the deal.” An Ceann Comhairle: Please, Deputies. The Taoiseach: Suffice it to say that what we made very clear is that we want greater flexi- bility shown to Ireland and its citizens in respect of the legacy we inherited from the crowd on the other side of the House. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Hear, hear. Deputy Michael McGrath: More arrogance. The Taoiseach: In that regard, there are discussions taking place as a result of an initiative taken by the troika comprising the IMF, the European Central Bank and the European Com- mission to produce a paper on the question of flexibility in regard to Ireland and the promiss- ory notes. Deputy Willie O’Dea: He is talking about moving parts. The Taoiseach: It would be wrong of me to stray outside the confines of the discussions that are taking place. Deputy Micheál Martin: What about the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton? The Taoiseach: I have never raised expectations in this regard. Deputy Willie O’Dea: Members of the Taoiseach’s Cabinet did. The Taoiseach: I have never put a time limit on the matter because it is far too important for our people. Deputy Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach should tell that to his colleagues. They have done so. Deputy Mattie McGrath: Cá bhfuil Joan? The Taoiseach: The officials engaged in the troika negotiations deserve the opportunity to be allowed to continue, in a spirit of patience, such that we can arrive at a position where Ireland can have greater flexibility shown to it.
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