Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Finance and Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP, to come to the House to discuss tax harmonisation, which is an issue that is gaining some momentum at EU level and needs to be discussed here? I have discussed the matter with Mr. Ryan, MEP, who has a great deal of knowledge about it. He is a member of a European Parliament committee examining tax harmonisation, which would pose an enormous threat to Ireland's competitiveness. I am sure Senator Alex White will agree that we need to take preventative measures to safeguard the economy. There is a precedent for getting MEPs to come to the Seanad to debate issues being discussed at EU level. I am worried that this subject will be ignored at local level, even if the Minister for Finance is batting admirably on Ireland's behalf. We should not allow the momentum that is building in Europe to continue, as we might not be able to stop it at a future stage. The Seanad should use the facility available to it to ask the Minister for Finance and Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP, to come to the House, thereby allowing it to focus on this matter. I would be grateful for the assistance of the Leader in this. The country would benefit from a focused debate on tax harmonisation which poses a significant threat to the economy.