Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I accept and welcome the outcome of the European Council meeting which reached agreement on the treaty without great difficulty. I also welcome the little compromise on the allocation of 750 or 751 seats in the European Parliament. The eyes of 500 million people will be on this country next year, as the only country voting in a referendum on the reform treaty which Fine Gael will strongly support. It is important that the National Forum on Europe is given adequate resources and that there is real co-operation between the Government and Opposition parties which support the reform treaty in delivering a clear message to voters. Has the Taoiseach decided when the referendum will be held? It is important that a decision is made reasonably early. As the future of 500 million people depends on the Irish vote for the reform treaty, it is of major significance.

Was the European Union's attitude to Kosovo discussed at the Heads of Government meeting? I visited Kosovo some years ago with Deputy Timmins when he was Fine Gael spokesperson on Defence and witnessed the tinderbox in that country, where 2 million Kosovans or Albanians live in uneasy alliance with 90,000 Serbs. The Council of Europe must take a clear view on this position. What will be the view of the European Union if independence is declared and backed by the United States? The Taoiseach is aware that Irish troops have played an important part in their location south of Pristina. Was the matter discussed at the Council?

In The Irish Times today it is reported that Britain is to create an electronic border to deal with terrorist and other illegal movements. Does this mean the Government must review its position on the Schengen agreement? The Taoiseach is aware that Ireland remained outside the Schengen area because of our common travel area arrangement with the United Kingdom. If this is now being changed unilaterally by Britain, are we not obliged to review the Schengen agreement as the common travel area will, effectively, be abolished? In recent years people from this country have been obliged to show passports while travelling to Britain.

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