Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

These questions cover quite a spectrum of matters. On attendance by members of the Government at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics or at the events that will take place during the games, will the Taoiseach clarify the position in respect of his indication regarding official representation at any or all of the events in question? Has the Taoiseach given consideration to visiting the United States before the presidential election there later in the year?

My final question relates to the meeting between the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on 14 April. Is the current Taoiseach aware of whether his predecessor raised with Chancellor Merkel her statement on the Lisbon treaty in the European Parliament on 27 June 2007 to the effect that "The substance of the constitution is preserved. That is a fact."? Is Chancellor Merkel's view, which she repeated in the interim, shared by the Taoiseach?

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