Mr. Ó Neachtáin, MEP:

Go raibh maith agaibh, a chairde, agus gabhaim buíochas do na Seanadóirí ar fad a chuir ceisteanna. I will try to respond to the questions as far as possible.

Mr. Ó Neachtáin, MEP:

Senator Ormonde raised the taxation issue. As I said there should be unanimity on taxation because it is at the core of the scepticism referred to by Senator Mooney. The feeling is that Europe may get ahead of itself in dealing with issues which are not in the broader EU remit, issues best left to individual member states. When the agreement in Laeken put together a convention, it was clearly stated that it should differentiate between the competences best looked after at European level and those best dealt with at national level. As we currently know it, Europe is only in its embryonic stage of development. In a very short time it has managed to arrive at a level appreciated by the people of Europe. It is very important, however, that Europe would not rush ahead into competences that do not belong to it at this stage. With agreement, that may broaden in the future. On taxation and on other issues which are of concern to member states, there must be consensus.

Mr. Ó Neachtáin, MEP:

I have been struck by the effort being made to bring about conciliation and consensus. All legal progress in Europe contains within it the bringing together of different opinions and we are capable of doing it. That format must remain for the foreseeable future. Otherwise we will go too close to the apprehension of the early part of the last century when Europe descended into the turmoil and devastation of two world wars. If Europe has learned anything, it is to be on the side of consensus and conciliation and to move forward on that level. The institutions of the European Union need to be revised and their legal base broadened to cope with enlargement. On a practical level, I believe that will happen.

Mr. Ó Neachtáin, MEP:

Senator Bradford spoke about Connacht-Ulster as a peripheral region and about the future of Objective One status. When the current Objective One agreement concludes in 2006, I hope there will be a transition period, as we now have for the south and east. It would be a mistake to go from a situation of positive support to one of no support. There should be a continuation along current lines. That decision has not been made yet, but I hope it will be a favourable one.