Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Barrett. I will kick off by following up on his last point of the governance in the eurozone area. The British referendum on membership is approaching. In the Bloomberg speech in 2013, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Cameron, listed five areas about which he would be concerned and on which he would like to see progress, one of which is fairness whereby any country that is outside the eurozone should have equality with those countries that are within the eurozone in terms of the procedures that are put in place. Would Professor Barrett see anything in this document that might make it more difficult for the British Prime Minister to make the case for the United Kingdom to stay in Europe?

My second question relates to the proposed competitiveness authority. The document states that these authorities will look at such matters as the wage rates in countries and comparing them with those prevalent in other countries that are trading partners, presumably countries such as China and the United States. Will that competitiveness authority in Ireland, when it is set up, be in conflict with the Low Pay Commission that we have just set up? How will those two organisations balance each other out?

On Professor Barrett's comments about the role of national parliaments and the European Parliament, he would be aware that Article 13 of the fiscal compact recommends two meetings per year between national parliaments and the European Parliament and others. The next one is in a few weeks time in Brussels. Could that be strengthened further in order that we can increase the role of national parliaments, specifically in the semester, and achieve our involvement at an earlier stage?

My final question concerns COSAC. It is working and continues to improve. National parliaments are coming together in a range of areas, such as proposals to improve the use of the yellow card and to pilot the use of the new green card. Do the witnesses see a developing role for COSAC in the Semester and deepening economic and monetary union?