Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the last question regarding languages, we have been very supportive. As I said, my Spanish colleague flagged it with me that he was going to bring it to the General Affairs Council and maybe a decade or so previously it was brought to the General Affairs Council. In the new government they are trying to form in Spain, it is something that has come to the forefront and they are trying to get movement on it again.

The Deputy pointed out a number of issues around enlargement. I concur that the last thing we want to see is a differently tiered European Union. I thought it was interesting that President von der Leyen floated the idea of a rule of law to apply to some countries before they come into the Union and having a dialogue on that and how democracy and their freedoms and institutions are doing and progressing. We see the challenges. One of the experiences that can be surreal at times is Article 7 appearances of some countries that are currently members of the European Union and trying to get them to comply with freedom of the press and fundamental freedoms. It can be very challenging. It really points out to us that when we are taking new countries in, it is very important that we take a merit-based approach and that they measure up because it only causes problems in the future if there are inherent weaknesses that have not been resolved. We have to work hard with our counterparts to ensure that-----