Mr. Frans Timmermans:

I am sorry. Yes. I have to be very careful in what I say now because it is linked to the negotiations. It is clear that exceptional circumstances allow us to digress from the rules. Deputy O'Brien was correct when he said that one can see exceptional circumstances coming, but that is not how it works. They have to be there before we can invoke them. I think we would all be well advised to prepare well for this eventuality. I am afraid that is as far as I can go in response to the Deputy's question today.