Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

We have gone along with Europe on the basis that we had better be co-operative and so on, whereas up to approximately two years ago, Ireland's position was to oppose the CCCTB as a policy and as an initiative. There has been a change, whereby Ireland now is engaging in discussions. In addition, I refer to French statements on corporation tax and note their recent pronouncements on this matter have been clear enough as to the future direction they seek in this regard. Ireland should be clear that the European Union fiscal treaty does not represent a threat to its corporate tax rate. Moreover, people must be assured in respect of the enhanced co-operation approach, which is in line with the intergovernmentalism that is being driven by the German and French Governments in the context of this treaty. It must be emphasised that this does not pose a threat to Ireland's corporate tax structure. People are not clear about the matter to which I refer, particularly in light of the various pronouncements that have been made in respect of it. We have not adequately asserted how central to our economic regeneration are our corporate tax structures.

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