Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach. He took 14 questions on the European Union together. In his reply he said he had not raised the issue of retrospective recapitalisation with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at the European Council, despite the fact that in 2012 he and the then Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, were very clear that a game-changer of a meeting had occurred and that retrospective recapitalisation would apply to Ireland. At the time, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, claimed they could get up to €6 billion back for Ireland through retrospective recapitalisation. Given that the Taoiseach did not raise the issue with Chancellor Merkel or at the Council meeting, is that the final confirmation that the issue is off the table as far as the Government is concerned? Is it the case that the Government is no longer seeking a retrospective recapitalisation deal in respect of Ireland's bank debt? Can he confirm that in a later reply to me?

With regard to the refugee crisis, it is accepted that the vast majority of refugees are leaving war-torn Syria and other locations because of conflict and war and because they want to seek a better life. I refer to the strengthening of relationships between Turkey and the European Union, notwithstanding the curbs on press freedom and the emergence of a more authoritarian regime in Turkey. What is the state of play in regard to the relationship between Turkey and the European Union in terms of its long-running application for membership, and the nature of the agreements that have been arrived at on the refugee crisis?

Does the Taoiseach accept that the most effective way of dealing with the refugee crisis in the short term, apart from dealing with the source of the conflict in Syria and resolving the issues there, is to provide substantial resources to the refugee camps? The Taoiseach mentioned the major camps in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. Improving the quality of life for those in the camps in terms of education, work and so on could potentially stem the flow of migration to Europe. Nothing is available to assist in improving the quality of life for people in those camps.

The Taoiseach said the refugee crisis had dominated the Council meetings. The recent rapes of and attacks on women in Cologne caused a lot of concern and distress. Was the issue raised at the meeting? Did the Taoiseach have any briefing on this and the potential implications for the process of integration and fully teasing out and evaluating the immigration crisis as it hits Europe? There are many far-reaching issues.

I refer to the proposed referendum on whether Britain should remain within the European Union. The Taoiseach used a wonderful phrase, on which I commend the civil servants involved. He said the Irish point of view was well known in terms of the importance of the issue and the significance of Britain. I am not so sure it is well known, and I do not think the precise or specific details of the Government's view on the specific proposals that the British Government is putting on the table have ever been spelt out. In his reply, the Taoiseach referred to competitiveness, governance and sovereignty, immigration and free movement, welfare, in-work benefits and so on. What exactly is the British Government seeking in terms of welfare proposals? Is it solely concerned about welfare fraud? Is it looking for different rates of welfare to apply in host countries or for the welfare rates in one's own country to apply if one migrates to another EU country? I refer to EU citizens. What are the proposals around free movement across the European Union? The Taoiseach mentioned that in-work benefits would prove to be a difficult issue to resolve. Can he outline what exactly the British Government is looking for in that area? What are the potential implications for Irish citizens working across the European Union if the British Government gets its way on that? Can the Taoiseach outline specifically what it is looking for?

Can the Taoiseach indicate specifically whether the British Government is seeking an accommodation for the City of London in terms of eurozone policy and access to the decision-making process within the eurozone area? Is it seeking an input into decisions that the eurozone would quite properly take for the eurozone area? The Taoiseach referred to his meeting with the British Prime Minister yesterday. Did he discuss the issue with him?

The Taoiseach said the Irish Government was in broad agreement with the British Government on competitiveness. Have labour laws, labour market flexibilities and workers' rights featured in his discussions with the British Prime Minister, or is the British Government raising those issues on the agenda of the European Council and seeking changes to existing labour market rules and regulations? That is probably enough for the Taoiseach to be getting on with at this stage.

I note the Taoiseach's comment that the legal form of the agreement is to fall short of treaty change, which in itself has implications for what is ultimately agreed. Notwithstanding the comments of Nigel Dodds, MP, and others, we are members of the European Union and therefore have every right to be involved in discussions when an existing member of the Union seeks to change the rules in order to maintain its membership. We want Britain to remain part of the European Union; it is in our best interests and that of the European Union. It is rather regrettable that Northern public representatives, in a very old-style way, seek to suggest that we be excluded from any discussions on the issue. I hope there will be some reflection on that from those protagonists.

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