Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

For many years, the Irish representation in Brussels, as the Chairman will know from his own experience, has actually performed exceptionally well. It has been very good at making contacts with the different elements of the institutions, the Commission and so on. The Chairman said that the officials might have appeared to "turn native". It is important to hear that they follow political direction.

Ministers engaging in Brussels in terms of Government policy or philosophy being followed is always driven by what can be done to achieve that. From my experience, the Irish permanent representation there has always been diligent and first class in the way it goes about its business. Often, it is not easy to get political consent around the table afterwards depending how vigorous these issues are pursued. However, it is a rule-based Union and governments sign up to the role. How they are interpreted or how flexibility is shown is always a matter for political discussion afterwards.

The agenda of the Juncker Commission is simplification, abolition of red tape, investment, growth, competitiveness and jobs, security and migration. That issue will be discussed at the Bratislava meeting in September. That is fixed for 16 September but that may change because it is a week after the appointment of a new British Prime Minister. We would, therefore, have an idea of that person's strategy.

I met some of the transport industry representatives last night in Leinster House. They all export machinery to mainland Europe through Britain. A lorry can currently be driven to the Ukraine border just with invoices. If there is a major change, it will mean drivers will require papers entering and exiting Britain. This would mean additional administration and costs and probably delays, as well as impacting on competitiveness. We will address these matters and I take the Chairman's point in this regard. A haulier will be paid a certain amount to bring a load from here to Manchester and will be paid a higher amount to bring one back because the costs are higher on the other side.

It is correct that the €3 a week increase for old age pensioners was part of a package that increased payments to them by €10 a week, but it was never enough.

With regard to housing and mortgages, a range of measures were taken, including the code of conduct, no cold calls from banks, the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, personal insolvency practitioners, PIPs, and the removal of the veto from banks. At the end of the day, it is difficult to get everyone to engage. If there is no engagement, there will not be a solution, which only causes further stress. The numbers are much reduced and we are trying to do what we can to ensure they continue to decrease.

The €4.5 million allocation to the Moriarty tribunal is for this year and no other Department is involved.