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

With regard to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's Topical Issue debate, I had some contact from some interested parties on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the Council of Ministers meeting held on the Monday morning. Through Marylee Wall, policy adviser to the committee, interacting with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Sunday, it was raised at the meeting of the Council of Ministers by Ireland. Belgium or Germany might have indicated that they had some interest. It was raised and the request came from us at that particular time.