Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for outlining the work programme. I will start with two questions, the first of which is on the last issue that the Commissioner raised, namely, the potential exit of the UK. A proposal in the work programme on deeper and fairer economic and monetary union, EMU, relates to the development of a European pillar of social rights. Bearing in mind that this proposal seeks to address gaps in existing legislation on social rights, which is one of the areas in which the UK is interested in seeing changes, will this cause problems, what does the Commissioner envisage happening and how will that square with the UK's desires?

My second question is on the Commission's proposals on a deeper and fairer Internal Market. The Commissioner mentioned the withdrawal of some obsolete legislation, for example, the common consolidated corporate tax base, CCCTB. According to the Commissioner's communiqué, the Commission intends to withdraw this initiative and replace it with proposals for a staged approach, starting with the agreement of a mandatory tax base. How will this impact on Ireland? In particular, will it impact on our ability to compete for and attract foreign direct investment, FDI?