Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I listened to the Taoiseach's presentation. This European Council will cover a wide range of topics, all of which are important. However, because of my limited speaking time I can only highlight one or two issues that I am concerned about. As far as economic issues are concerned, the EU will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Single Market. In my opinion, apart from the initial setting up of the European Coal and Steel Community, the Single Market has been one of the most important achievements of the EU. We can take it for granted but it is definitely the oil that greases the wheel of economic progress and stability in the EU.

I notice also that the European Council will be discussing state aid rules. While we do not have time to discuss it in any detail today, it is crucial that the Government maximises the opportunities provided by the temporary relaxation of state aid rules for certain eligible areas. I have with me a map produced by the European Commission which outlines the areas that will be eligible for relaxed state aid rules. We can see it shows every single county in the Border regions and the west as well as parts of counties Wexford, Waterford, Clare, Tipperary and Kerry. This picture tells the story of where the greatest need is. I am sorry the Taoiseach is not present. If he was, I would emphasise to him that this is the European Commission telling the Irish Government the action it needs to take.

One of the other matters that will be dealt with at the European Council is how to address high energy prices, which feed in to the inflation cycle. Yet, in yesterday's Finance Bill we saw that by the end of October, we will have an extra five cent per litre on marked gas and oil, 16 per litre on diesel and a 21 cent increase per litre of petrol. There is no sense in going to a European Council meeting to talk about addressing high energy prices and then increasing them at home.

We never discuss the European semester in this House, yet it is the recommendations from the European Commission to this country as to certain actions to be taken. I will only pick one. The Commissions asks us to increase the supply of social and affordable housing. We should listen.

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