Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure the witness can answer, but from an observational perspective it appears the big states in the EU are pitching this for their own benefit as opposed to the European Union as a whole. The potential knock-on effects of what they propose - Mr. Macron in particular - will not be beneficial to the EU. It will be beneficial to France and Germany. Part of me is very much in favour of what the EU does and how it does it but parts of this discussion trouble me because it is clearly national protectionist and it does not benefit the EU as a whole. It would have a considerable impact if the model Emmanuel Macron, in particular, was looking at were introduced.