Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

We have shared this information through our diplomatic system. The initial reaction of colleagues in Europe was surprise but they all accept it now. We got the information published in the leading French newspapers, including Les Echos, which is the French equivalent of the Financial Times, and I think it was also published in Le Monde. There has been a change in the French position. It is no longer seeking an increase in our 12.5% rate and has moved the argument on to the tax base. The information has gone through, therefore, and it has had an effect.

See this speech in context