Shane Ross (Independent)

——Deputy Beverley Flynn and others with whom he might not necessarily choose to pursue this particular adventure. Senator Regan has a genuine passion and I believe we should respect him for it. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil seem to be united behind this treaty, as well as employers and employees. There are disparate groups forming behind an issue and we should respect these beliefs because there is obviously some conviction in this type of politics which does not exist in other types.

There is one matter, however, on which I would like to take issue with Senator Regan. He is absolutely correct when he said the Lisbon treaty does not make any difference to the veto on corporation tax. That is correct per se. However, I am sure the House does not need reminding that a report on tax harmonisation was held back by the EU Commission because it did not want to frighten the Irish electorate. What kind of manipulation is going on? The veto, of course, will remain but not in perpetuity. The French, the Germans, the Italians and now the British are, as we speak, plotting to remove that veto and change the corporation tax base.