Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)

I thank the Taoiseach. I understand his point about fiscal discipline but the quotes I used from Angela Merkel specifically referred to fiscal union. Fiscal discipline may be the one step she referred to but, undoubtedly, fiscal union is on the agenda and it will be on the agenda on 9 December even if it is deferred. Could the Taoiseach assure us that the Government will not allow the issue of tax harmonisation to arise at that meeting and that he will not countenance any talk, as a quid pro quo, of a change in the 12.5% corporate tax rate, which may well arise?

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