Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----at the humiliation inflicted on the Irish people today, 18 November 2010. Whatever else happens I want the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance to understand that I regard the 12.5% corporation tax rate as sacrosanct, as enshrined on behalf of the Irish people in the Lisbon treaty. Any change to this tax would represent a massive breach of trust to foreign direct investment in this country.

The Governor of the Central Bank spoke the truth today, something no Government Member has yet done. He stated that when the visitors from abroad arrive here they will discuss, negotiate and direct the drawing down of tens of billions of euro to deal with the catastrophic failure of the banking strategy pursued by the Government. I understand that the projections for 2012, based on the current rate of progress, are that the debt to GDP ratio will be 105% and debt to GNP will be 135%-----

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