Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach will have a busy and varied series of visits next year. During the European-Africa Lisbon Summit, was the Taoiseach able to contribute when Mr. Robert Mugabe was present? We had an argument about this before the Taoiseach went out there. Some felt it might have been better if he did not attend, while others on the Government side argued that it was an opportunity to give Mr. Mugabe a clear message by speaking out in his presence. I saw only the Taoiseach's contribution on television from some hallway where he made the point about the 14,000% inflation rate. Did he deliver his comments to the gathering when Mr. Mugabe was present?

Does the Taoiseach agree that we are reaching a point where we, and the Taoiseach in particular, should be able to fix a date for the EU reform treaty referendum, either alone or with the referendum on children's rights? Anti-European campaigns in various forms are already beginning and the people of this country have to be as well-informed as possible in view of the fact that 500,000 million people are watching them and that the future of the populations of Europe depend greatly on the decision to be made by them.

Does the Taoiseach have a view on how we can have a positive impact on the tinder box that is Kosovo, with its impending declaration of independence? From the discussions around the table at which I sat this will be difficult and sensitive. Whatever decision is made, we do not want Serbia and Kosovo to repeat the situation in Macedonia, which might severely disrupt Europe's opportunity for peace and harmony. The Taoiseach is aware of the importance of that.

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