Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It just occurred to me that there may be changes taking place in the physical structure of Europe, albeit we do not yet know, which will, in turn, impose broader responsibilities on the court where the number of countries outside the Union increases, especially larger countries. To what extent does Mr. Cardiff envisage any difficulties arising in the audit as it affects the administration of the Europe that remains? That is assuming a worst-case scenario.

I cannot resist the following question. It has been indicated to us that a large bonanza of funding is about to arrive on our shores from taxes which the European Union alleges should have been levied on multinational corporations. What provision does Mr. Cardiff see the court having to make in future for audits across the European Union in circumstances where it is alleged that some multinational corporations do not pay their full share of taxes either within the European Union or outside it? This country has been labelled as one of the erring bodies, which we strongly deny, of course. Has it occurred to anyone that these issues may present complications for the Court of Auditors in the future and, perhaps, in terms of the past also?