Mr. Noel Dorr:

I will finish quickly. I will respond to Deputy Eric Byrne's question about how we change foreign policy. It is a big question. As I just said, there is the whole-of-government aspect. There is also the role of this committee. I am sure the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister will listen to what is said here in this review; I hope they will.

The Deputy talked about other European nations doing things in Mali and so forth and referred to what I said about the triple lock and how I interpret it. I am suggesting that we open a debate on all of these issues. I tentatively put forward the idea about the triple lock. It is our own decision how we restrict our participation and there might be an argument for making a super majority in the Dáil the deciding factor in certain matters. It will not happen often. I believe it is a matter for debate, and that is my best answer to that.

The Deputy talked about Irish troops and how they are welcomed. I believe that is true.

The Deputy also referred to migration from eastern Europe and, again, talked about Africa. He is right that Africa is developing. It is no longer, perhaps, the poorer continent. There is much promise there and also a great deal of conflict.

The question of fundamentalism across the whole centre of Africa, spreading from the overthrow of Gaddafi, is quite dangerous. I attended and was involved directly in a conference last year on the changing face of Africa where ambassadors spoke. I was very impressed by what I heard and I participated in the conference.

I wish to comment on two final points made by the Deputy and then I will finish. One point he made was on the UK and the EU. That is a very serious matter ahead for us. It would be a really serious issue for us if the UK was to leave as we would have serious choices to make. Even in the negotiation - the UK wants a renegotiation of aspects of the European Union - the question is how far it would fray the fabric of the Union to get the UK to stay. These are very serious issues.

The Deputy talked about who should lead the World Trade Organization. I will return to the point that I would hate to see contention between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation or any of that and would always emphasise a holistic approach to government. I do not want to see interdepartmental trade being bounced between Departments or something like that. I do not know where it would lead and it would depend on a decision by Government at the time, but I would hope that all Departments would co-operate.

The Deputy spoke about the two state solution in the Middle East which has been a long-term aim. Many Israelis saw its importance because as population grows, they may have to face a terrible dilemma for them, between the character of Israel and a growing population of Palestinians who would have to live in a repressed state. It is an issue for Israelis. The late Ariel Sharon may have seen some of it when he decided to pull out of the Gaza Strip after all of the other things that he was involved in that I shall not go into in detail. It is getting harder to see the two state solution as the settlements continue, and that is a serious issue. All I can say is that we hope Secretary of State Kerry will produce something but it is very difficult to be hopeful. I thank the Chairman.