Greece crisis: Kenny says deal still possible at weekend talks

Greece will get an extension of its current bailout for another six months if agreement can be reached with the euro zone finance ministers tomorrow, according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, he said time was running very short but a solution could still be found if there was proper engagement.

He said the EU Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund had undertaken to consider the latest set of proposals.

Mr Kenny said if there was agreement and it was signed off on by the euro zone finance ministers it meant there could be an extension of the current programme for six months.

“It shows the willingness of the institutions and everybody else to accommodate the proposals that have come in from Greece,” he said

Hr Kenny said at the meeting of EU leaders he had told them of the Irish experience and how “our focus was on ending instability and creating growth and providing opportunities for jobs” as a way out of the crisis.

“It was not a case of me telling him (Alexis Tsipras) what happened in our case and saying you have to do the same but saying what we did and how we were able to exit the bailout.”

The Taoiseach said he had pointed to the damage the current instability was causing and how that was impacting on the ordinary people of Greece.

“So I do hope that measures can emerge to deal with that and I spoke to the prime minister about that,” he added.

Mr Kenny also spoke about the briefing British prime minister David Cameron gave to the summit about his plans for an in/out referendum on EU membership.

“He gave a very brief outline of his proposals for reform before that referendum takes place. He did say that this was the start of a process and the ship was launched. He did talk to individual countries and individual governments and he hopes to have a more complete report by December. He recognises that agreement will take a great deal of work.”

The Taoiseach said Mr Cameron’s contribution had been short and to the point.

Mr Kenny said Ireland would have a problem around any proposals that involved changes in EU treaties.

“I think there would be serious difficulty about this for a number of other countries and not just Ireland.”

He added the solution might just well be what happened in the case of Ireland when it had problems with EU treaties. A legally binding attachment to the next treaty that might come along that might come along.

“He is very conscious of that himself,” said the Taoisaech.

He added that if the question was to open the treaties for further treaty change on an issue like this, there would be 95 per cent opposition.

Mr Kenny added, however, that aside from treaty changes Ireland would be constructive and supportive.

“We will obviously wait and see what comes of the technical work. We will have a better idea of what is involved when the issue comes on the council agenda for the December meeting,” said Mr Kenny.

On the issue of migration which was supposed to be the main focus of the summit Mr Kenny said the entire meeting had been impacted on by the Greek situation.

“So the discussion that took place on migration which might have been difficult in its own right.”

He added it had been agreed to rebalance the EU approach to migration and agreement between member states on a voluntary relocation plan.

It was agreed to help 60,000 people, 40,000 through relocation and 20,000 in resettlement.

Mr Kenny pointed out Ireland had an opt-out along with the UK and Denmark but would consider what we could do to help.

"At our meeting we also resolved to do more to address the factors that drive people to risk their lives to arrive in Europe. People are coming in from west Africa, from the horn of Africa and also through Libya, " he said.

Mr Kenny also said he had expressed condolences and sympathies to president François Hollande and the French people about the appalling events that had taken place today.