Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will answer the Deputy's second tranche of questions first. Last year, legislation was introduced to establish the National Economic and Social Development Office, NESDO, as the umbrella organisation to co-ordinate the work of NESC, NESF and NCPP and to create and realise synergies between the work of these bodies. Accordingly, from now on a single funding provision for these bodies will be included in the Estimates under subhead B. The allocation for NESC is €1.116 million, while it is €880,000 for NESF and €1.62 million for NCPP. The allocation for NESDO is €1.937 million. The increase in funding across the four bodies is approximately 10%, which reflects increased operating costs. Some of the latter obviously relate to pay but many of them relate to activities in 2007. By coming together and using only one premises and secretariat, many efficiencies have been created.

The Estimate includes a provision of €1.621 million to provide for the ongoing work of the National Forum on Europe. The increase in funding reflects the expanded and increased levels of activity on the forum's part. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the day-to-day operations of the forum because it operates independently. However, there are resources available for the forum to continue and expand its work. The Deputy will be aware, from contacts with his group in Europe, that considerable momentum has been created by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in terms of pressing on with the constitution and moving towards a declaration in March.

The pro-constitution lobby has activated itself over recent weeks, with a meeting in Madrid next week. Much of that will be decided by the EU Presidency which will support strongly various amendments to the constitution. It is working wisely in streamlining some issues, while not changing them, placing them in separate annexes. That should create a position where those member states which have not previously ratified the constitution may do so. They may do so by parliamentary vote, which is a position we do not have. Realistically, such a process will not be in 2007 but in 2008, but the referendum on the EU constitution will be back on the table this year. The German Presidency will provide a blueprint on how to take it forward and, to build on that in the second half of the year, the National Forum on Europe should activate itself.

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