Mr. Francis Jacobs:

There is no numerical requirement because, obviously, the Parliament must be flexible. However, it has tried to insist on at least one third or more being women candidates. A country putting forward a woman nominee - so far it has been that way rather than the other way round - is obviously already winning some support for itself, as long as the candidate is good in quality terms. In fact, the candidate the Parliament did not like the last time and who had to be withdrawn was the Bulgarian candidate who was a woman. She was replaced by another Bulgarian woman candidate who was an excellent candidate and easily passed her confirmation hearing.

The confirmation hearings are a really gruelling process lasting over two hours. Many factors are taken into account during them. They are based, to some extent, on the US model. When they were set up for the first time in the early 1990s, the European Parliament sent some of its staff and politicians to the United Stated to see how the Americans did it and learn positive and negative lessons from the US confirmation hearings process.

Deputy Seán Kyne mentioned the issue of the European elections inevitably being more on national issues. I believe that will be the case for a long time. Inevitably, it is an opportunity to raise issues. That is why many people in the European Parliament are worried about next year's elections, at a time when there could still be a severe economic crisis in many countries. It could be a chance to protest against incumbent governments and protest parties could do very well in the elections in many countries. There is a great deal of concern about this. What the European Parliament is trying to do, especially by having a more presidential election, is to have some of the Europe-wide issues raised. If the Greens group, the socialist group, the European People's Party, the left socialists and the European United Left, GUE, group within the Parliament have candidates for the post of President, it is not only a chance for that person to gain a higher profile but also for the political programme of that political group to be diffused better throughout the European Union. It is a policy option opportunity, as well as a personality matter.