Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Reference was made to the ETA ceasefire. I specifically raised the matter and complimented the Spanish Government on the way in which it facilitated the ceasefire. I suggested that if the Spanish Government wants any assistance from us through the Irish example, we would be more than willing. Subsequently, Prime Minister Zapatero indicated to the Taoiseach that he would be interested in coming to Ireland, which will be arranged. Batasuna was not on the agenda and was not mentioned.

There is no reference in the Council conclusions on nuclear energy. As the Austrians are like ourselves — anti-nuclear — we were reasonably happy with the way in which Austria handled this issue. There was no call for us to object to the nuclear energy issue in the conclusions, as it was not included and there was no discussion on nuclear energy while I was there. The conclusions refer to the need for the retention of national authority over policy choices regarding fuel mixes for power generation purposes. In other words, it is left to individual member states to decide on their own energy mix policies. I would hazard a guess that Deputy Ó Snodaigh and others would be hopping up and down if Ireland were to be lectured in some way by other member states on the type of energy mix that we would require. I will not have it both ways. We do not dictate to other countries nor would we expect other countries to dictate to us.

As the House is aware, there was a substantial discussion at the European Council on the draft services directive. The European Parliament completed its first reading of the draft directive on 16 February. It is up to the Commission to bring forward a revised text, which I understand it will do shortly, probably in the first week of April. As was suggested in the conclusions, it is expected that the revised draft will draw on the Council and Parliament texts. As the Deputy knows, this is an issue for co-decision between the Council and the Parliament.

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