Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her appointment as Vice President of the European People's Party, EPP.
I wish to discuss three issues. The communique between Chancellor Merkel and the Taoiseach is significant because it acknowledges Ireland's unique problem of legacy debt. Will we have a legacy debt deal before we take over the Presidency of the European Union? The Minister of State knows that we must be magnanimous when we hold the role and it would be seen as selfish if we pursued out own goals during the period. I realise that the supervisory mechanism will only come into play "at the end of this year." Does she think that we can strike a deal before then?
Last week I attended a COSAC meeting hosted by the Cypriot Presidency. One of the things that I learned was that if Ireland and all of the EU countries implemented the services directive Europe would grow, and each country would grow, at a minimum of 2.4% GDP. How are we doing? Has Ireland progressed? The directive would allow businesses to be easily established here. It would also allow Irish people to establish a business in another country without setting up shop there. What about the digital agenda? Has Ireland implemented e-signature and e-invoicing?