Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Before I call Deputy Arthur Spring, I ask the Minister to revert to an issue raised by Deputy Dara Murphy, the position with the German trade surplus, on which there has been much commentary. Mr. Paul Krugman also had an article on it last week in which he stated that the German economy was benefiting from a cheap euro. I understand the Commission is due to publish its opinion on member states' draft budgets on Friday and that this may address the issue of the German trade surplus. The question is whether the German situation will be raised as part of the national budgets when the Minister is at the ECOFIN meetings.