Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The EU has reacted promptly to the violence and division. On 18 June, the General Affairs and External Relations Council issued a strong message in support of President Abbas which should be understood in the context of the discussions. It has also restored normal relations with the new emergency Government and is seeking ways to restore direct aid, with which Deputy Ó Snodaigh was specifically concerned because such aid will have a significant impact on the people of the area. My apologies for not responding to the Deputy.

In response to Deputy Costello, the focus was primarily on the constitutional treaty and where we go from here. The Deputy is right that climate change was a significant addition. A better reference was made, which has not been given as much coverage as it deserved, to services of general economic interest, which the Deputy and myself would both welcome given our interest in public utilities. Other than that, the main issue was to focus on the concerns that existed on the constitutional treaty.

The Deputy also asked about accession and whether there was a focus on enlargement as such. The discussion focused on the accession criteria. There was much discussion, particularly laterally, on whether there should be a specific reference to the Copenhagen criteria. The mandate does not deal specifically with the Copenhagen criteria but it does state that the conditions that were previously agreed by the European Council shall be taken into account. There was a specific reason that a direct cross reference was not made to the Copenhagen criteria. If there was to be such a direct cross reference, one would undoubtedly find, from time to time, judges deciding on the issue of extension of the Union, which is fundamentally a political decision which must be made. It is a political decision which will be based on how Europe regards, for example, the human rights behaviour of an applicant. However, to answer the Deputy's specific question, there is a reference to the accession criteria.

Reference was made earlier to the area of national parliaments, which was a point I was going to make before I was interrupted. I agree with the point made by Deputy Kenny that the issue of national parliaments is very important. There is an extension in the number of weeks of delay which arises because of the yellow card process. It is perhaps, in some people's view, not particularly large but it is there nonetheless. Otherwise, the institutional arrangements are as they were. One of the positive points about the weekend is that the institutional arrangements were not reopened because if they had been, the very fine balances which were put in during the course of the Irish Presidency could have been undermined.

The process adopted by the German Presidency was to focus on as few points as possible. I do not disagree with the Deputy's characterisation that much of the discussion for domestic consideration in other member states is on some people's abhorrence of referenda. We will have a referendum here and that is a good and proper approach. Indeed, it is the only approach possible under our Constitution. It gives us the opportunity to engage with the people and do what Deputy Kenny referred to in his contribution. Deputy Kenny made the point that it is very important for Europe to listen. The only way we can listen is by having a dialogue, and we will have a dialogue. I am very grateful to the leaders of the two main Opposition parties for their contributions.

The final question the Deputy asked concerned whether, in the middle of the night, during the discussions on the British protocol, a reference was made back home. The answer is "No" because clearly, at 3.45 a.m. it would not have been appropriate to do so. However, the Taoiseach very wisely put down a marker that we must determine what exactly will be the impact of the British protocol. My personal view——

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