Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

3:00 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Yes. I have some 13 or 14 questions in this group. The handling of these questions is a very good example of the way the Taoiseach has undermined his own accountability to the House. Many of these questions were put down well in advance of the summit but they were not taken due to the halving of the number of sessions of questions to the Taoiseach - we normally had two a week but that has been reduced to one a week, with a consequent impact. The Chief Whip promised that a review of July's changes would be held in December and I ask that we have that review.

Following the summit, the Taoiseach and others spoke about how jobs and growth were going to receive a big boost from the agreements. In reality, I think he would agree, the projections and ratings for the eurozone have declined further since the summit. The reason I asked whether the role of the ECB was discussed, whether the CCCTB was discussed and whether the Taoiseach used the opportunity to put Ireland's position in regard to corporation tax and CCCTB, is that we need to have that debate at these meetings. Does the Taoiseach not agree that the leaders, particularly President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel, need to know there are alternatives to the particular narrow approach they are taking to resolving the eurozone debt crisis? It is not all about austerity and it should not all be just about the narrow pitch of fiscal rules and fiscal compliance. There is a broader picture.

Let us be clear. Among both leaders there is a strong Franco-German push for harmonisation of taxes. In December, they explicitly stated that the new eurozone meetings would enhance the co-operation measures on taxes. That is why I asked the questions. I am surprised the Taoiseach said he did not discuss or raise this at the summit. He should take every opportunity at these meetings to say that Ireland does not support CCCTB and does not support harmonised corporation tax rates because to do so would harm and hinder our recovery from the crisis and our pathway to growth and jobs, and would have a very negative impact.

Will the Taoiseach explain why he did not take the opportunity at the last summit to broaden the debate in terms of a true fiscal union and broadening the role of the European Central Bank to give it the powers to enable it to deal adequately with the crisis? I find it astounding these issues were not raised at that meeting because, ultimately, that is what has to happen. It is strange that these meetings take place and issues that are being discussed everywhere else by analysts and in writings and articles do not get ventilated or articulated at key meetings that decide the destiny and future of the eurozone itself. That is the first major question I want to put in terms of the taxes issue and broadening the debate from the narrow debate we have had so far on resolving the eurozone crisis.

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