Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been much discussion, both yesterday and today, about this European Council meeting. All the issues have been raised. I want to put place on record my position on the backstop. I am concerned that the formulation of a legal text in the context of the protocol seems to have been put back until October at the latest. I hope we can make substantial progress on it by the June summit and it is important that we do so. The tricky issues are always left to the very end. There is a danger, if it is left to the very end, that compromises will be brought forward at late-night meetings in smoke-filled rooms - although perhaps they are not smoke-filled any longer - and that, in the midst of the wheeling and dealing, the outcome on the Irish question might not be as favourable as we would wish.

The digital tax was a big matter at the European Council meeting. It threatens our corporate tax base and ability to attract foreign direct investment. I ask that it be dealt with at a global level, through the OECD, and that it would not undermine EU competitiveness in any way.

Article 7 has been invoked in respect of Poland. Article 2 of the establishing treaty of the European Union outlines European values regarding human rights, democracy, freedom of speech and so forth, as well as the independence of the judiciary. It seems that the independence of the judiciary in Poland is under threat. I appreciate the separation of powers but it is reasonable to refer to the decision by a High Court judge to refuse an extradition request from Poland pending a review by the European Court of Justice. That is a major case to be dealt with. It does not come within the remit of parliamentarians here; it is a legal matter that was raised by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly and it must be put in the context of the invocation of Article 7. Can the Minister of State indicate if there is concern about the situation in Poland, the rise of illiberal tendencies in some EU states and how that might threaten the future of the EU?

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