Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore's been praised by the European Parliament's chief negotiator on the EU budget talks, over how he handled the negotiations.

It comes after the Tánaiste was criticised over what some MEP's called his "manipulation" of the budget talks outcome.

But this evening, MEP Alain Lamassoure, the chief negotiator, said he wanted to praise Eamon Gilmore for the way he has conducted the negotiations regarding the MFF from the side of the Irish Presidency.

Mr Lamassoure said in these very difficult negotiations on the most important topic for the European Union in the coming years, Mr Gilmore has shown a great capacity for listening, and he has shown proof of full loyalty towards his counterparts. 

"Eamon Gilmore has taken political risks within the frame of a very tight negotiating mandate that was based on a unanimous decision by the member states," Mr Lamassoure said.
 
"When, during the negotiations, I realised that he went as far as he could go within his mandate, I proposed to table further discussions on the text in our respective delegations.  The delegation of Parliament was not in a position to accept the outcome, given the differences expressed by representatives of the different political groups in Parliament.
 
As lead negotiator, I will present the agreed text to the Parliament and I will personally defend it," he added.