Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The French election will be in summer 2007. The Austrian Presidency could get agreement that other countries could go ahead. There is now a majority of 13 or 14 countries and all the indications are that another three or four will definitely move. We are moving to a position where we are down to the last five or six next year. The Austrian Presidency might say the others should go ahead with the exception of the two. In that case, we would proceed. However, I do not believe that is likely to happen. I believe people will wait until after the French presidential election but perhaps they will change their minds over the next nine months or so.

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