Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of questions from the Deputies. I will very briefly refer, as Deputy Clarke has, to Ireland's current Presidency of the Council of Europe and request that perhaps consideration might be given towards advancing the application of Kosovo under our Presidency? It is an outstanding matter and obviously there are procedures involved. It would be most beneficial for Kosova if progress were to be reported on this matter during the course of our Presidency. I am very conscious of the time and the fact that there are a number of outstanding issues for the Minister from Deputies Gannon and Clarke.

I see Senator that Craughwell has returned.

I will give the Senator a brief opportunity to ask some questions.

We have already discussed the headline of the Government's decision today on the report of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces. We indicated that we would have a special meeting on that. I anticipate that this is an area in which the Senator is going to major. I ask him to be brief. We have about ten minutes, because the Minister is due to speak elsewhere. I need to give him an opportunity to reply to the detailed questions from Deputies Gannon and Clarke.