We’re just a tag-on

The debt deal reached at the EU summit is surely good news for Ireland.

But I can’t help feeling every time we catch a break from Europe it is due to the misfortune of some or a tough stance taken by others.

It was during the deepening crisis in Greece that we were granted a reduced interest rate on the bailout and now it seems that because of hard line negotiating by Spain and Italy we will be able to take from the State’s balance sheet some of the debt that was inflicted upon us by the banks’ bailout. The mention of Ireland appears to be a tag-on at the end of the deal.