Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----the different Finance Ministers. At least it was known if the conversation took place on a bus, unlike when a previous Government brought assessors in a van with blacked out windows to see the site of a proposed sports centre several years ago. The German Minister for Finance made his views known, and not for the first time.

This is an ongoing process. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and Deputy Howlin have been delegated responsibility to deal with this matter and will do so. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, on behalf of the Government, has been clear in this regard. While it is the legal responsibility and right of the Commission to produce any paper that it so wishes, in respect of a CCCTB, as we have already made clear at the meeting of the heads of Government we will participate in discussions on any paper produced by the Commission. In this regard, we have a very healthy scepticism and have outlined our objections to the consequences for Europe, and not just Ireland, of a CCCTB.

See this speech in context