Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, raised the non-penalisation of France and Germany for non-adherence to the Stability and Growth Pact. He feels the outcome of this may affect interest rates in the euro zone. He asked me to request the Minister for Finance to address the issue when he attends the debate on the Estimates tomorrow. I will convey this to the Minister. Senator Hayes also offered good wishes to us for our parliamentary party meeting and I thank him.