Former ministers not at EU talks, says Taoiseach

THE FIANNA Fáil leader reacted sharply to a claim by the Taoiseach that Ireland’s relationship with its European partners was “nothing short of disgraceful’’ under the previous government.

Enda Kenny said ministers in the last government had not attended meetings they were supposed to attend. “When they did speak, if they spoke, they spoke only on a narrow, confined basis about elements of this country and had no contribution to make on the broader context of Europe.’’

Micheál Martin said the Taoiseach’s assertion was “most reprehensible’’ in terms of former ministers. “It is a low charge that has no substance, and you should withdraw it.’’

Earlier Mr Martin said that last February all of our European partners agreed to change Ireland’s financial support package to make it more sustainable.

“This was officially confirmed at the euro zone summit that the Taoiseach attended just over three months ago. Since then there has been no progress, and things have actually been going backwards.’’

On Monday, he said, senior sources in the office of French president Nicolas Sarkozy had expressed amazement that Mr Kenny had yet to go to Paris to discuss the interest rate. “Incredibly, the Taoiseach’s own office refused to confirm that he had even spoken to President Sarkozy on the phone. Since the election he has held a bilateral meeting with only one European leader involved in our funding package, the UK prime minister Cameron, yet he refused even to ask him about reducing the interest rate.’’

He asked what had happened to the Taoiseach’s pledge, made days before the election, to use his contacts in Europe and to arrange a great rush of meetings with European leaders.

Finance ministers, said Mr Martin, had failed to reach agreement on our interest rate.

He urged Mr Kenny to “end his hands-off policy and arrange to meet face-to-face the leaders who are standing in the way of delivering the better terms everyone agrees are required’’.

Mr Kenny said Mr Martin seemed to want to “increase the level of what was deemed to be a Gallic spat to an all-out war’’.

The Government had a look at the agreement, reached by Mr Martin’s government and the troika, and set about renegotiating elements of it within the constraints of the overall deal in order to improve Ireland’s lot by obtaining agreement on the spending analysis under way, the reversal of the cut in the minimum wage, and approval for a limited jobs initiative.

The result of those negotiations had been confirmation from the troika itself, the IMF, Olli Rehn, Christine Lagarde and others of Ireland’s case for a reduction of interest, which was approved in principle at a meeting of the heads of government.

Mr Kenny said he would meet Mr Sarkozy “in due course and at the appropriate time’’.