Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome both speakers and thank them for their presentations. Mr. Coffey mentioned fiscal transfers, integration and debt mutualisation being gone. Is the evolution of those policies a result of improved economic conditions or a lack of political support?

Mr. Coffey mentioned the European fiscal advisory board. Previously, we have seen rules such as the Stability and Growth Pact or deficit targets ignored by larger countries. What role will this advisory board have? Will it have an enforcement role or will it be merely advisory where such advice can be ignored? The Chairman stated that Mr. Coffey will become a member of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council in January and he might have a particular interest in that area.

My question for Professor Barrett is similar to that of the Chairman. Might the five presidents' report allay any concerns of the United Kingdom about the improved role of national parliaments?

On the European Semester and the country-specific recommendations, I stated at another meeting that there certainly were no surprises for Ireland in the country-specific recommendations, partly because we had been dealing with those inside the programme in recent years. Do other European countries debate the European Semester process more openly and can we have a greater role?

I have another question for Mr. Coffey. How could national parliaments be more effective in scrutinising economic, financial and fiscal union matters in the future?