Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I thought we were deciding whether there will be a referendum. Have we already made the decision? When will the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, answer Deputy Micheál Martin's questions? When will there be a public education campaign? If the Government will not consult the people, at the very least it could explain what is in the treaty.

We did not use any leverage whatsoever regarding the common consolidated tax base. Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy are moving ahead with their implementation plans for it but the Government has done nothing except constructive engagement. We were told that would stop it but that has not been done. It is not part of the treaty but it is of concern to people.

The Minister of State did not mention that enforcement will be carried out by other European countries. Germany or France will enforce it on us rather than the European Commission, which should do it. She was not able to do it because of the veto. Why has that aspect of the treaty not been addressed?