Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to raise three matters with the Tánaiste. The first relates to last year's St. Patrick's Day events on which occasion the Minister for Finance in an interview with The Financial Times stated that the Government intended to introduce as a matter of urgency legislation to deal with the problem of crony capitalism in Ireland. When will that legislation come before the House?

The European Court of Justice ruled last week that minimum pricing for tobacco products in Ireland is illegal. What plans, if any, does the Government have to deal with this matter?

My third question relates to an issue drawn to my attention by Labour MEP, Alan Kelly, namely, that the State aid rules in the European Commission are under revision and that proposals for changes in the thresholds for State aid rules must be submitted before the end of this month. Is this matter being addressed? Clearly, this is an issue which will impact on employment in this country.

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