Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Dorr's presentation. He stated that most books on international relations were written from the viewpoint of larger states. Many of our higher education colleges and universities provide courses in international relations. Professor Tonra will address the committee later. Is Mr. Dorr familiar with the courses provided in our universities? Are they framed from a similar point of view?

I am broadly supportive of Turkish accession, but we occasionally receive correspondence outlining people's concerns about it and EU enlargement in general.

The architecture of the UN has not been changed in many decades and does not take account of the changing status of many countries, particularly in Asia. Does Mr. Dorr foresee any change in that architecture, particularly the membership of the Security Council?

I wish to put an issue regarding Northern Ireland on the record. Considerable progress has been made. The peace process is relatively new and we must maximise the potential of the Good Friday Agreement. As to Deputy Byrne's comments, policing is one of the success stories of Northern Ireland. Chris Patten devised a good, ambitious programme. Thankfully and importantly, both communities have bought into it.

If possible, will Mr. Dorr comment on a concern of mine regarding the Haass-O'Sullivan proposals? Good work was done and I welcome the fact that the Alliance Party, the SDLP and Sinn Féin have taken a positive approach, unlike the two Unionist parties, which is unfortunate. In every major breakthrough that brought a new dispensation to Northern Ireland the two sovereign governments were active participants in the talks, not bystanders. I hope that the Haass-O'Sullivan talks will be brought to a successful conclusion, but the two sovereign governments need to be involved. The Downing Street declaration, the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement were driven by the two sovereigns with the co-operation and support of the political parties in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Dorr mentioned climate change. It does not get the attention it deserves in foreign policy. Will he comment in this regard?

I hope that Britain will not leave the EU. We in this country are not exercised enough about the matter. Any change in Britain's EU status would cause us significant difficulties.

The Department's name was changed, but it was given relatively little additional responsibility. Mr. Dorr rightly pointed out that the Irish Embassy network works in all of the country's interests, not just foreign relations and trade. Ireland's lead Minister at the World Trade Organisation talks is the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Should the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade be the lead Department? A world trade deal that is ambitious and balanced is badly needed, particularly for poorer countries.

Chancellor Kohl and President Mitterrand provided leadership in the 1980s when changes were occurring in eastern Europe. In particular, Chancellor Kohl provided a great air of authority, vision and commitment to all of Europe. Should such leadership be provided at Commission President or European Council President level? As Mr. Dorr mentioned, vision and leadership have not been offered to the EU in recent years.

With regard to the Middle East, the US Secretary of State John Kerry has been doing Trojan work in trying to achieve a framework agreement but the Israelis have announced the construction of 1,400 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Is Mr. Dorr concerned about the two-state solution? Some make the point - although I do not share it - that it is impossible. I had hoped that Mr. Kerry's initiatives earlier this month would prove fruitful.