Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy has argued previously, it is very important to take into account consumer issues in such talks, as well as sustainability in respect of energy and other areas. We will have to go back into talks on the second half of this round immediately after Christmas or before Christmas. We must look at issues of sustainability and we are committed to addressing them and looking at some consumer issues.

I had scheduled to attend the ICTU conference tomorrow because we were to hold the North-South Ministerial Body and the British-Irish Council meetings on Friday, but they have been put back to next week. It was not ICTU's fault, I had agreed with the Northern Ireland authorities and the British Government to hold them, but Gordon Brown has asked me to switch those meetings to next week and I have agreed to do so.

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