Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

There is a theoretical debate in Europe on whether the current situation requires more economic and monetary union. I represent the country on the EU budget council and the reality is that there is no willingness among our partners to put more funds into the EU budget. In fact, many of them would like to put even less money into it. We have an interest in defending the sums that are put into the Common Agricultural Policy.

Apart from some excise duties on the night, the budget is not set in stone until the Finance Bill is passed so there is plenty of time to discuss and refine budget measures in this House.

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