Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We also share the Minister of State's disappointment with regard to the situation in Ukraine which it is hoped will be resolved satisfactorily. The EEAS is a very important result of the Lisbon treaty. I was concerned to read reports in the newspapers about the level of expenditure on the EEAS since its inception. The figure is currently €400 million a year for 139 embassies or about €3 million per mission. Ireland runs missions for one tenth of that sum. I am glad to hear that we will be looking at a review of the efficiencies. The average European citizen would expect no more.

I refer to the Minister of State's comments on a review of the visa regime for Turkish citizens and that is welcome. I have met some of our Turkish colleagues recently and I am aware that this matter is one of their concerns. They hope to see some form of lifting of the visa restrictions so that they can become more integrated with the European Union.

We share the Minister of State's concerns about the lack of progress on Bosnia and Herzegovina. I acknowledge the situation is complex. The committee visited the region about 15 months ago and we would hope to see improvements in the situation in the near future.

The committee completed its work on the social dimension of EMU at a recent meeting last Tuesday and has compiled a report which has been issued to the Commission as recently as last Thursday. We will provide the Minister of State with a copy of the report in advance of the GAC meeting where it may be discussed. It would be useful for the Minister of State to be informed of the committee's comments.