Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

The Minister admitted initially that neither he nor Department of Foreign Affairs officials have had time to consider in detail the report published today. In view of the fact that his Department will examine this report in the coming days, will he give an assurance that this matter will be raised at the Council of Ministers on 12 or 13 June? It is a Council of Europe document and it is of sufficient status that this matter be discussed at the Foreign Ministers' meeting, which I understand will take place next week.

Having examined the detail of the report, will the Minister give the House an assurance that further negotiations or discussions will take place with the US Administration on this issue and that the Department of Foreign Affairs will use its good offices to ensure that the US ambassador will meet the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, either in public or private session, to discuss this issue? We met him informally outside the normal structures of committees but this issue is of sufficient seriousness to have a structured exchange of views, either privately or publicly.

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