Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

-----this matter was raised at meetings with the Prime Minister and this is the reason the questions were grouped.

I answered this question at the press conference in Downing Street. It is a difference of opinion about the fact that an international agreement exists. The British Government has taken the view that a Queen's Counsel should be appointed to review the Finucane papers. For my part and on behalf of the Irish Government, my view is the same as that held by my predecessors, that a full inquiry should be held and this was recommended by Mr. Justice Cory. The agreement was that Mr. Justice Cory's recommendations would be adopted. This is the reason the Smithwick tribunal was established in this jurisdiction. It is a cause of regret to me that the British Government has not followed through in this regard and I believe it should do so. I made that specific point with regard to the Finucane case because it was a specific recommendation of the Cory report. There have been so many other claims landing on my desk about inquiries in other areas but this was part of an international agreement and Mr. Justice Cory made a specific recommendation. The British Government took the decision to appoint a Queen's Counsel who will report later this month. I have explained this to Geraldine Finucane and I have made the same point to political interests in the United States when I had the opportunity to raise it there.

Deputy Martin is correct that the United Kingdom Independence Party, UKIP, should stay out of Ireland's affairs. The referendum on 31 May is for the Irish people to decide and the Irish people are well able to make up their minds without any interference from UKIP. As to whether it is associated with the "No" campaign in a formal or informal way, I do not know. However, I can inform the Deputy that there is a significant bloc at the level of European Heads of Government about a financial transaction tax and there will be complete opposition to such a tax from quite a number of countries. I can confirm that this matter was raised in very trenchant terms at the last Council meeting.

I look forward to the meeting on 23 May which will be one of two European summits which will deal with the subjects of growth and investment. When the parameters are discussed at the first meeting, the Heads of Government should then return with an agenda list of propositions which can be dealt with at the June meeting. As President Barroso recently indicated, it will take some time to sort it out and there could be a significant movement by the end of the year which will be followed through. The political will is there to drive it.

I refer to matters such as the Single Market or the digital market which is supposed to be introduced by 2014. That is not long away but there needs to be a major lift in the political driving of these agendas which will have such a significant impact on the economies.

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