Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 22, inclusive, together.

I visited Budapest on 25 November for a meeting with Prime Minister Gyurcsany. At the meeting, we discussed issues on the EU agenda and, in particular, the negotiations on the financial perspectives for 2007 to 2013 and the development of Ireland's economic relations with Hungary. While I was in Hungary, I also launched the Irish-Hungarian Business Circle, a new body designed to promote trade and economic contacts between Ireland and Hungary.

I attended the EuroMed tenth anniversary summit in Barcelona between 27 and 28 November. The Barcelona conference of EU and Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in 1995 marked the start of a new partnership phase of the relationship between the European Union and the Mediterranean. The tenth anniversary summit was co-chaired by the British and Spanish Prime Ministers. The summit adopted a code of conduct on the fight against terrorism and approved a chairman's statement. In addition to almost all of the Heads of State or Government of the European Union, the summit was also attended by representatives from the EU's Mediterranean partners including Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

I attended a dinner hosted by the King of Spain and delivered a national statement to the plenary meeting of the summit. I also had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister Mr. Blair to discuss issues on the EU agenda, including the future financial perspectives, and Northern Ireland matters. I met leaders from Palestine, Morocco and Israel and had a short exchange with the new German Chancellor, AngelaMerkel. I had previously written to the new Chancellor congratulating her on her appointment. I used this opportunity to reiterate my congratulations and indicated that I would be happy for the Chancellor to visit Ireland when her diary permitted.

I hosted a working lunch for Mr. TassosPapadopoulos, President of the Republic of Cyprus, on 30 November. The President's visit marked a further step in the very positive relations between Cyprus and Ireland and we reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening economic, trade and cultural ties. We also had a very constructive discussion on developments in the EU in the run-up to the December European Council, focusing in particular on enlargement issues and future financial perspectives. The President briefed me on prospects for progress in the United Nations-led process in Cyprus.

I attended the European Council in Brussels on 15 and 16 December. As I made a statement to the House last Wednesday I will not go into detail on its outcomes. The main outcome was agreement on the financial perspectives for the European Union for the seven years, 2007-13. The agreement is a good one from Ireland's point of view as it respects the October 2002 agreement on CAP funding and the 2003 CAP reform programme.

The Prime Minister Mr. Blair was chair of the European Council and in that capacity had discussions with all delegations on the issues on the European Council's agenda, in particular the financial perspectives. I did not have any additional bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister as I had already had a substantive bilateral meeting with him in London on 9 December in preparation for the European Council.

I am sure the National Forum on Europe will hold a number of meetings during 2006, continuing its good work on the period of reflection on the European Constitution. However, as the National Forum is an independent body and I have no function in its day to day operations, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on its planned work programme for 2006.

While I have no immediate plans to meet bilaterally with the President of the European Commission, who visited Ireland in July 2005, I will meet the President at the forthcoming European Council.

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