Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Bulgaria and Romania have come through 35 chapters of European Union accreditation. That is very important. This situation only arose at Christmas. Based on that, it would be very unfair of Ireland to place an obstruction in the way of sovereign countries which want to join the European Union and which have met the necessary requirements and signed up to them. On that basis and given the work we are doing, this matter can be handled by Ireland through its agencies and in consultation with the Bulgarians on a bilateral basis rather than at European level.

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