Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I wish to raise two points. I understand the Government has received or will receive today the proposals of the President of the European Council for treaty change, which will be put to the summit to be held later this week. Will these proposals be shared with the Opposition? The Taoiseach also will be aware the French President and German Chancellor have made clear that they seek a new European Union treaty to centralise control of member states' budgets. Will time be allocated in the Dáil to debate these issues before the Taoiseach travels to the aforementioned summit? Will the Taoiseach take such an opportunity to outline his opposition to any further loss of Irish fiscal powers? Given the existence of a clear proposition for treaty change, will the Taoiseach commit to holding a referendum on that issue?

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