John Gormley
Question:153 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his recent meeting with the German Finance Minister, Mr. Oskar Lafontaine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28014/98]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Meetings.
The meeting lasted one hour and two main topics were discussed, namely the EU budget and the German contribution to it and tax co-ordination within EU. Mr. Lafontaine and myself set out our respective positions on various matters relating to these two issues. It was not a negotiating session but a preliminary exchange of views in the light of the fact that Germany will take over the EU Presidency on 1 January next. I made it clear that as far as Ireland was concerned tax harmonisation was not part of the scenario and that I favoured the route proposed by Commissioner Monti which was the code of conduct group.