Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

I also welcome the Minister of State and endorse the sentiments and commendations extended to him. Equally, I commend Senator Maurice Hayes for chairing the forum, which has been widely praised.

Some of the questions I had wished to put to the Minister of State have already been asked. I am heartened by his reply in respect of tax harmonisation. I am delighted that he has again affirmed that, in so far as the Government is concerned, unanimity must be retained in regard to tax harmonisation. There are, however, a number of concerns, one of which was raised by Senator Dardis in respect of small states and where our interests might best lie in the future.

When we joined the then EEC, for every £1 we paid in we received £10 in return. Out of every £10 we received, £9 went to farmers and, out of that, approximately £8 went on price supports. Things have changed a great deal in the interim. There is a new scheme of things now and, as others Members stated, the situation is constantly evolving. How does the Minister of State see Ireland fitting into the new scheme of things, given that in two or three years we will be net contributors as opposed to being major beneficiaries?

Senator Dardis said that the charter of rights will be incorporated in the Constitution. Will it pose a threat to our sovereignty? Some scribes have been busy recently in pointing out a legal basis for our concern. Does the Minister of State agree with that?

To come back to the choice between the Commission and Council, the view is, as stated today, that Ireland's interests and those of the smaller states would be best served by a stronger Commission rather than a stronger Council in a constantly evolving European Union.