Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Kenny probably knows it was decided at the European Council that rather than letting Mr. Mugabe take over the summit, we would make one trenchant statement, delivered by the Chancellor of Germany, Ms Angela Merkel. She did that well, and thereafter we kept to the business of Africa, rather than allowing the summit to degenerate into everyone from Europe having a cut, and the Africans having a cut back. It worked out well and he did not get the same level of attention he got at the last summit. We had not had a summit for seven years because of that issue but it was well handled and we moved on to the important business of the considerable interests between Africa and Europe. It is unfortunate that issue is there, but when one takes 60 or 70 countries there will always be issues. To Ms Merkel's credit she made the statement trenchantly and effectively.

We need to get our tactics right on the date of the reform treaty referendum. We do not need to make up our minds over the next few days, but we will have to decide so that we can focus our campaign on the period necessary. There is considerable difference of opinion on whether we should have the two referenda together or on separate days, and that is across many of the pro-European groups outside this House. I have listened to their views extensively and we will have to come to a conclusion early in the new year. As Deputy Kenny said, this is a major issue for the country and our standing.

Rather than looking at the need for a referendum in the negative, we should look at it as a positive, although I am not sure it is a good thing for the distant future that any time there has to be any change we need a referendum. From 1987 to date, every time there has been a change we have always needed a referendum. It has always been that way during my time and Deputy Kenny's time here, but whether it is right forever more is another question. Looking at the judgment of 1987 and the Attorney General's recent judgment on this as I interpret it, to change a single line of the European Treaty, which is a bulky document, would require a referendum. Whether that is the greatest thing for this country over the next, 20, 30 or 40 years is a matter for debate. There is no argument on whether we should have a referendum on the reform treaty, and we should gladly face into it. This time there are many changes and it is a different position. There is no doubt on that.

Maybe the people on the streets in Mayo or Dublin are not getting themselves in knots over Kosovo, but around Europe they are. Yesterday's lunch meeting went on for three hours. Deputy Kenny and I have seen that this will be the major international issue in the early months of 2008. We discussed the report from the contact group of the Kosovo troika on the conclusion of the status talks that have gone on for a few years. The troika was thanked for its efforts and regretted that a solution, which is required for regional stability, could not be found. That is a disappointment. Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, a former president of Finland, worked hard on that in this group, but it is a difficult issue, as we both saw in the various discussions. The Council discussed at length the position to be adopted by the EU in the aftermath of the conclusions of the troika process. There was a strong emphasis on the importance of a unified EU approach — that is why the meeting went on so long — and for the EU to make clear its willingness to take the lead internationally and to help them manage and resolve the European problem. This country made the point that we are ready to play our full part. We have remained committed to playing an active and positive role in Kosovo. We have been in there from the start, with our soldiers and some very good gardaí and other personnel on the administrative side charged with the task of trying to set up an administration. There has been a substantial and enhanced Irish commitment to a KFOR military presence all the way through from 1999. The gardaí are highly thought of in the job they do, which is very much at the administrative end.

I agree with the Deputy it is clear that the absence of a new resolution raises many difficulties. It would not be helpful for anyone to speculate at this stage on the question of recognition. When the Troika process is formally concluded the matter will first be referred to the UN Security Council for discussion, early in the new year. It would not be wise to predict the timing and sequence of events thereafter, but regardless of the outcome, I believe that the European Union cannot and will not shirk its responsibility to deal with the challenges that this difficult process may yet present. We obviously have to be very careful. I stressed the other day that we must continue to talk not just about Kosovo, but Serbia and how we maintain relations with that country and with the wider Balkan region. It is an extremely difficult, tense and important issue for everybody, particularly the large number of countries directly concerned. What surprised me the other day was the number of countries involved and the strength of their views. Some of these countries do not normally express strong views, but this major issue was the exception. It is inevitable that for the first quarter of 2008 it will be a regular news item.

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