Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Dowds for his intervention. With regard to the debt burden, other leaders understand very clearly the challenge Ireland faces in its unique situation because of the scale of the borrowing for recapitalisation and the high level of the interest rates. That is the reason we wanted to follow this through, set it out formally and deal with it at the Council meeting, and we will follow on through from here.

I cannot predict what the decisions of the British Prime Minister will be and, clearly, a range of views arise from the meeting at the weekend. When speaking to the Prime Minister yesterday evening, we focused on the Single Market and on a clear understanding that Britain wants to be a central part of the European Union into the future.

In respect of Deputy Dowds' comments about a more democratic Europe, that is why, following the Lisbon treaty process there has been a change in a range of areas where the European Parliament, which is a directly elected representative of the people, now has co-decision responsibility with the European Council in a number of areas. That is the way it should be in order that the issues which are being teased out there can be dealt with thoroughly. The Ceann Comhairle will be aware it is the European Commission's responsibility to produce legislative proposals and it is the responsibility of the Council and the Parliament, in their different fora, to deal in debate with those proposals.

For example, Deputy Martin, or perhaps another Deputy, referred to the common consolidated corporate tax base, CCCTB. A proposal is coming forward from the Commission in that regard which the different fora are expected to discuss. We will participate in those discussions. We have set out our view on this in very clear terms, as have a number of other Governments. In the next reply, I will deal with the matter raised by Deputy Ross.

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