Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not want to go into the Defence (Amendment) Bill other than to state — I discussed this with my Finnish colleague — there is a significant movement from all of these countries, the former neutral countries, to involve themselves in the battle group on humanitarian issues and not to encounter the difficulties we had previously in Bosnia Herzegovina and other countries. We will be able to play our part in that and it is good that we do so.

The Seville declaration is clear and that would form the basis of the European Constitution in whatever form. That will remain in it. It does not require definition. It is clear. I stated in this House at that time what it meant.

I cannot be specific about what amendments the Dutch or the French might examine. There is a live debate in both countries about the kinds of things that perhaps they would look to include in the debate. They must come to the conclusion of that. I am almost certain that will not happen until after the Dutch general election in the autumn and after the French presidential election next year.

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