Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Brown, has promised £50 billion over the next ten years, assuming the parties agree to restore the Assembly, which everybody would support. When will the Irish Government make known its commitment to financial backing in that regard? Has the Government considered what major infrastructure projects would be involved, such as development of the Letterkenny-Derry gateway or the Shannon-Erne waterway? What is the figure, when will it be announced and what projects does the Taoiseach envisage the funding will cover?

Has there been any progress in the discussions on adjustments to taxation North and South? I refer specifically to the corporation tax rate of 12.5%, piloted through the Cabinet of the rainbow Government by Deputy Rabbitte and Deputy Bruton. Parity of taxation was discussed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister of Finance and it is a matter of interest to business North and South.

Following the decision yesterday to freeze property in Manchester worth over £2 million belonging to the brother of Thomas Slab Murphy, can the Taoiseach provide an update on the attempts, ongoing for some time, to recover the proceeds of the Northern Bank raid?

In response to a parliamentary question I tabled last week the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said gardaí had conducted inquiries in Colombia into the activities of the Colombia three. What was the nature of those inquiries? Has the Department been in touch with the Colombian authorities on the subject of their becoming a signatory to the Council of Europe convention which allows for imprisonment of persons in this country instead of extradition? Has the Taoiseach received any response from the Colombian authorities to direct questions put to them by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform?

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