Updated: 12.08

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Everyone’s talking about…

All eyes are on Greece as the embattled country tries to strike a deal in order to avoid defaulting from the eurozone.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis with our own Michael Noonan. Virginia Mayo Virginia Mayo

Enda Kenny said he believes a debt deal is possible, noting he was “happy” to see “some movement” from Greece on the issue yesterday.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, the Taoiseach said none of the eurozone leaders want a Grexit.

He said of the potential deal: “These things have to be financially sustainable, they have to make economic sense and they have to be fair.”

At the start of an emergency summit in Brussels yesterday, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said he hoped concessions from Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras can secure an agreement.

Today the Irish Independent says Noonan was one of the toughest contributors at the talks, siding with Germany in warning Greece that the provision of day-to-day emergency European Central Bank lending cannot continue indefinitely.

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Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that Noonan was among those who pressed for emergency financial support for Greek banks to be limited unless capital controls are imposed.

Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath welcomed the fact a deal appears to be close, but told reporters this afternoon: “The last thing this government wants to see is Greece get a deal that this government couldn’t get.”

As the world awaits a decision, the value of the euro dropped.

Eurozone finance ministers will hold fresh talks tomorrow before a full meeting of all 28 European Union leaders takes place on Thursday.

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he was “convinced” they could end the five-month stand-off, telling AFP: “We will come to a final agreement in the course of this week, for the simple reason that we have to find an agreement this week.”

The agenda

• Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan attended a commemoration ceremony in Cork at 8am to mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic Air India flight.
• The Cabinet will meet today.
• The Jobs Committee will debate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) at 1.30pm.
• Finance Minister Michael Noonan will answer questions in the Dáil at 2pm.
• The Environment Committee will look into Ireland’s electoral commission at 2.15pm.
• Former minister Phil Hogan, now European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, will address the Seanad at 3pm.
• The first Leaders’ Questions of the week will kick off at 3.15pm.
• The banking inquiry will meet in private session at 3.30pm.
• TDs will discuss topical issues at 6.11pm, before turning their attention to the minimum wage.
• A Fianna Fáil motion on providing greater support for credit unions will be debated at 7.30pm.

Inside Leinster House

It emerged that over the past six years there has been a steady decline in the percentage of Freedom of Information requests fully granted by the Taoiseach’s Department.

Oireachtas.ie Oireachtas.ie

What the others are saying

• The Taoiseach has “several” dates in mind for holding the general election, according to the Irish Independent.
• The Irish Times notes that former president Mary Robinson told a conference on climate change action on fossil fuels is urgently needed.

In case you missed it

• Enda Kenny said he believes a debt deal is possible for Greece.
• Senator Katherine Zappone announced she will run for the Dáil as an independent candidate at the next election.
• A Sinn Féin councillor who was expelled from the party said he was “stabbed in the back“.
• Health Minister Leo Varadkar told GPs to “cop on” in a Twitter exchange about free care for under 6s.
• For three years, ministers have repeatedly given the EXACT same answer to questions about the Moriarty Tribunal.
• The wife of an Israeli minister apologised for a “stupid” tweet about President Obama.

On the Twitter machine

Somebody’s been enjoying the nice weather…

Read: Out with the old: Bertie’s office sold to fund Fianna Fáil’s election campaign