Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy's first and last questions are related. It is fair to say that serious self-analysis is ongoing within a number of countries in Europe. The Greek Government is experiencing severe economic difficulties and, as the Deputy is aware, the Portuguese Government has fallen. There is a new trend in many countries that diverges seriously from what obtained heretofore. The CDU lost in Baden-Württemberg for the first time in 60 years, a loss which was exacerbated by the increase in support for the Greens arising from the nuclear reactor difficulties in Japan.

There are no towering political figures on the European stage in the way that people used to consider there were before. I spoke to all the leaders on a number of occasions around the table over the two days at the Council meeting. I held a number of discussions with some of them.

I do not disagree with the idea of arranging a number of bilateral visits. There may be some merit in the suggestion and, obviously, I will discuss it with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European affairs. It is necessary in some cases because under the previous Government there were occasions on which Ministers did not turn up for whatever reason. There is a serious need for bridge-building.

The Deputy will be aware that part of our programme for Government is the recall of all our ambassadors to Dublin at an appropriate time to discuss re-motivation and the restoration of Ireland's status abroad and to give them missions they must fulfil in the areas of trade, business and regenerating links. That is something on which we intend to follow through.

There was no discussion about burden-sharing at this meeting. As I outlined, there were discussions about Libya, the problem with the nuclear reactor in Japan, and a number of other issues, including the Euro Plus Pact. I made the point that the European Commission is perfectly entitled to produce its legislative papers at any time and that this country, no more than any other, would participate in discussions on whatever papers are produced. In respect of the proposal for a common consolidated corporate tax base in the Commission paper, while we will discuss the paper in general, I have a healthy scepticism about that proposal. The question of the corporate tax rate was not raised at all.

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