Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the constitution question, obviously matters have not proceeded at the speed we would all have wished so the workload at that end has not materialised as it should have. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, usefully co-ordinates closely with the ten new member states. They are at an early stage of membership and there is a great deal of engagement with them at different levels. He handles that area very successfully and it is an important issue.

On the constitution, there will be an effort by the German Presidency to make progress on this, particularly in the run-up to preparations for the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March. The Germans recently asked all member states to assign two senior officials to engage with them on that over the next four or five months, when they will try to make progress on the constitution and on a declaration on the Treaty of Rome. They will endeavour to progress matters in light of that. Frankly, I do not see them being able to make much progress. I have no doubt that Chancellor Angela Merkel will try extremely hard, but I do not see matters progressing until after the French election. However, I believe it will surface once again during the French Presidency in 2008.

While a good deal of work will be done by the German Presidency, I believe it will be 2008 before it again arises. It is becoming quite an issue in the French election and certainly all sides are indicating what they believe should be done. That is an issue we have to watch because I do not like the tendency to cherry-pick which has been operating again and which is not in the interest of small countries, particularly Ireland.

Having been involved in the business of the House at different levels, including Whip, over many years, I believe there have been great advances. There was a time when, as leader of the Opposition, the only topic one could raise on the Order of Business was legislation. As Opposition leader, I had about a minute before the Ceann Comhairle of the day, Seán Treacy, would cut me off, and one was not really able to raise anything. Now, however, I know of no other Parliament but this one where one may have an order unannounced on any issue twice a week, on whatever might have come up in the previous half hour or appeared in a newspaper, or whatever was deemed to be important.

We could make other advances too. We have made useful technological advances, putting the legislation and consultation on the Internet, which is good. The heads of Bills are increasingly being put out for open consultation, which is a very good advancement. There were other suggestions which would have involved Ministers coming into the House for similar types of questioning on issues, but consensus has not been reached on this and one cannot make these types of changes without the agreement of the House. It is a pity because we could make the House far more relevant. I do not see that happening as there does not appear to be any appetite for that among the Opposition Whips. Adjournment debates in the morning where Ministers would be obliged to come in at the start of the Dáil day as well as other suggestions would be very good, and perhaps they will be implemented at another time, but I do not foresee them being implemented in the immediate future.

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