Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

I wholeheartedly congratulate Senator Cummins on his appointment by the Taoiseach as the new Leader of the Seanad. I worked well with him as Leader of the House, as did the previous Government Whip, Senator Wilson, and Deputy Whip, Senator Glynn. I thank him for all he did for us and look forward to working with him in the remainder of the lifetime of this Seanad. We will support the Government in every way possible to ensure the smooth running of the House. Senator Cummins has huge experience and will make a very successful leader of the Seanad. He is the fourteenth Leader of the House. It is a great honour for his family, party and himself personally and I wish him well in continuing to make the Seanad a success.

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and as leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the Seanad, I urge support for the Taoiseach and the Government in their stand against the introduction of a common consolidated corporation tax base ahead of the European summit in Brussels today. Everyone in Ireland will agree that the Government cannot leave the door open for its participation. Two weeks ago the Taoiseach said he was opposed to the establishment of a CCCTB which he described as tax harmonisation by the back door. The matter should not be up for discussion in any shape or form. We all agree that the European Commission's proposals would see the introduction of a single set of rules which companies operating within the European Union would be able to use in calculating their taxable income which, as we all know, would then be divided up among all of the countries in the Union. The 12.5% corporation tax rate is our hallmark in terms of what we have achieved.

Seán Lemass introduced his own tax regime in 1960 which stood to us well until 5 April 1990. The 12.5% corporation tax rate, with the system of free education introduced by Donogh O'Malley, has given us what we have which we hope to progress for future generations. As in the case of the former Taoiseach, former Deputy Brian Cowen, and the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, I ask the Taoiseach to ensure the 12.5% corporation tax rate will not be interfered with in any circumstances. That is the strong message I ask the new Leader to take back to his party leader whom I wish well in his deliberations in Brussels over two days.