Martin 'disbelief' at lack of talks with EU leaders

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin clashed repeatedly in the Dáil in a row about the Government’s approach to the euro zone debt crisis.

Mr Martin had accused Mr Kenny of engaging in “rhetoric about diplomatic offensives” but failing to pick up the phone himself to talk to anyone of influence in the EU who could help Ireland.

However the Taoiseach rejected his comments, and told the Fianna Fáil leader: “You seem to believe that the kind of telephone diplomacy that you involved yourself in for the last 14 years, which landed us in this mess, should continue.”

Mr Martin expressed “amazement” and “disbelief” that in the four months since he had become Taoiseach Mr Kenny had not a “single bilateral meeting of substance with any EU leader”.

He asked Mr Kenny: “Can you explain how people are supposed to be reassured that Ireland is well placed to take advantage of this crunch meeting when you continue to maintain a hands-off, hope-it-will-work-out approach to your dealings with other EU leaders?”

Sinn Féin raised the issue before today’s meeting of EU leaders to deal with the debt crisis.

The Taoiseach said: “I will speak to all of the euro zone leaders tomorrow when I have that opportunity to remind them of how this country has measured up against the conditions and terms which are quite austere and challenging of the loan repayment situation that we find ourselves in from the EU-IMF.”

Asked what he wanted from the EU emergency leaders’ meeting, Mr Kenny said “what I want to see is that countries like ours in this situation are seen and be seen to receive support from the EU leaders”.