Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Having listened to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, he certainly narrowed the lines between outright opposition and constructive criticism and has managed to do that well. I have a couple of questions to put to the Minister. I would like to think the Government would look beyond neutrality and I would like to be able to agree with Deputy Ó Snodaigh that our neutrality has been eroded because we do not agree with the position of the Government on neutrality generally but, alas, that is not so.

The declaration signed on 5 October by Ireland states that Ireland intends to review the operation of these arrangements within three years. Can we take it that after a year they could be reviewed or do we have to wait until the end of the three years? I referred earlier to the team of three concept over the 18 month period. How will that be established? Will it consist of the same group of three at all times or will it rotate?

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