THE Margin as "teaching your grandmother to suck eggs" department is happy to report that Ruairi Quinn has been invited to address a big conference in Berlin on economic and monetary union organised by the European parliament group of the German SPD party.

Quinn will feature on the platform with top German politician Oscar Lafontaine. The invitation follows a recent talk the Minister gave on EMU to the Socialist Group of the European parliament.

Perhaps the Germans believe they have something to learn from the Irish economic "miracle". or maybe the Minister will be able to advise them on how best to meet the Maastricht criteria.