Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Regarding UN reform, they should try to implement the work left over by Kofi Annan and the work done on a regional basis around the world before starting on any new initiative. Much effort has been put into this since 2000 up to the appointment of the new Secretary General. It is crucial these are implemented over the next few years.

On the Chinese situation and the protests over the Olympics, as I said recently, in line with the one China policy followed by the EU partners, on which all are agreed, we regard Tibet as part of China, as does the Dalai Lama. We have expressed strongly our concerns regarding human rights in China. We raised them, as I said at the weekend, at the informal European Council meeting. The European Council is raising them in bilateral contacts with the Chinese authorities, including at official level in Dublin and Beijing. During these discussions we will continue to raise our concerns about freedoms of religious practice and expression and the preservation of cultural identity in Tibet.

There will continue to be difficulties and problems for China, the Olympic flame procession and the games. It would seem far more sensible to have real engagement within the one China policy to deal with these issues. These are fundamental human rights issues. It does not take away from what the Chinese policy is about, which we all know. However, there will be no progress unless they engage with the Dalai Lama. This is the crucial issue.

The Cluster Munitions Bill, a Private Members' Bill from Deputy Timmins, is before the House. The Government has outlined its support but there is broad acceptance that it would be best dealt with on the other side of the forthcoming Dublin conference. The Minister stated that after the conference we would be able to bring in a Bill in nine months.

I apologise to Deputy Burton that I did not raise the tax issue which Deputy Kenny raised again. Yesterday morning after it was raised, I had it checked immediately. I understand Christine Lagarde, the French Finance Minister, made an opening speech at a Brussels tax reform forum. The theme of her speech was taxation policy and enhancing competitiveness and growth in the EU. She also spoke about the themes for the forthcoming French EU Presidency which included environmental taxation and the savings directive as well as company taxation.

She admitted the common consolidated corporate tax base, the CCCTB, is a controversial issue and there may be no swift agreement on it. She said France supports the concept and she would like a debate on it. As Deputy Burton knows, I have been having a debate on the issue since 1992, so I have no problem with the French having one now.

Needless to say, we will use the opportunity, along with other member states, to give our clear position that our corporate tax regime is unambiguous and will remain protected in the EU context by the principle of unanimity in taxation matters. That principle is underpinned in the Lisbon reform treaty. The treaty will not undermine member states' national discretion in this regard in any way. Our position on CCCTB, on which the House is united, is that we will continue to highlight the difficulties that such a proposal will cause for individual member states and for overall EU competitiveness.

Any presentation of this as Ireland against Europe is simply wrong. Based on my own meetings and understanding, the majority of member states are either against or highly sceptical of it. Deputy Kenny will have an opportunity to make that clear this week at his European Parliament group meeting.

Christine Lagarde is a good Minister and I wish her well in her forthcoming EU Presidency. I will not be there to tell her I think it is a load of nonsense. If I were, I would tell her to do something more useful with her presidency with which she might have a chance of succeeding. CCCTB, in my view, will not get anywhere during the French EU Presidency or any after it.

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