Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the members of the committee for their co-operation. To embarrass him, I inform the committee that Mr. Brendan McNamara, who is accompanying me, is chairing the group meetings in Europe during the Presidency on this measure. He is doing a very good job which is much appreciated by my European colleagues. Four meetings have been held to date on a measure that was published only in December 2012 and first discussed by ministers in January. I hope that substantial progress will be made on the issue during the Irish Presidency. I am conscious that I am wandering around for the next six months pretending I am a president of something and that I have many very talented and good people in the Department who are co-ordinating matters at official and committee level. This is work of substantial importance to the benefit of this State and Europe and it is important we acknowledge that.

I wish members a happy Easter and hope that they all get from the Easter bunny whatever it is they are seeking.