Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the announcement by the UDA and the UVF of demilitarisation and the decommissioning of weapons. I wish to ask the Taoiseach a few straightforward questions. The Minister for Finance said that he made a mistake in increasing the VAT rate. The real issue in respect of the difference in costs between the North and South was in the main due to the differential between sterling and the euro. The perception among people in the Republic was that because of a reduction in VAT in Britain and Northern Ireland and an increase here, there were real bargains to be had and more than €700 million was spent north of the Border. Was this matter discussed yesterday and was there any indication that the Minister for Finance intends to reverse that decision?

In respect of climate change and energy, what is the position regarding the North-South interconnector? There is a problem from the midlands to the Border. Was this matter discussed between the Government and its Northern Ireland counterparts?

Was there any discussion about the appointment of the North-South Parliamentary Body which is part of the Good Friday Agreement structure? It is high time there was a move on this. People in all parties here have an interest in seeing that we move on to build more completely on the Good Friday Agreement. Was there any discussion or timescale agreed?

In April last year the Taoiseach indicated that it would be in order for companies operating in the IFSC to set up offices in the North to deal with a skills shortage in the Republic. He estimated at that time there could have been 3,000 to 5,000 jobs created in Northern Ireland. Was this matter discussed at the ministerial meeting yesterday? Has there been any progress on this matter or has it been decided that as a result of the conditions applying now it might be better and in everyone's interest to have as many jobs as possible created here? Was this discussed?

See this speech in context