Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

EU law is implemented in Ireland in compliance with legal requirements. We do all we can to make it as simple and proper as possible. It also must meet the principles of accountability and must be fair and proportionate. The whole idea behind the Lisbon treaty was to delineate more clearly those areas of competence that were exclusive to the institutions, those that were mixed and those that could be dealt with at national level. There was an explicit treaty provision regarding the question of proportionality and subsidiarity being a fundamental part of how the European Union would work in the context of the treaty being ratified but we are not now in that position as we rejected it in a referendum last Thursday. It remains a continuing issue, however.

Trying to ensure the European Union is seen as more relevant to the lives of our people and how it has a direct effect on them is a continuing challenge. It is one issue that affects the political culture here as well as is in other member states. It varies from country to country but none can claim to have cracked that particular nut adequately to anyone's satisfaction. That is an ongoing matter.

I spoke to the President of the European Commission, the French President, Mr. Sarkozy, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker. I will speak to several other Heads of Government tomorrow.

The issue was dealt with at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting yesterday. As is the norm, the general initial discussion and assessment took place there in preparation for the forthcoming European Council meeting. I will deal with the issue in a formal way at the Council meeting, but no decisions will be taken on Thursday. Obviously, we will have to outline a process of engagement with colleagues and the European institutions as to how we can bring this matter forward. My primary responsibility is to formally bring to the attention of EU colleagues the outcome of the referendum result and that the treaty has not been ratified in Ireland. I will also draw their attention to Ireland's wish to remain fully engaged in the European Union, to be part of its processes and to find a process of engagement which acts upon the solidarity that has been demonstrated by EU colleagues to this country in view of the non-ratification of the treaty as a result of the referendum result.

There is no immediate quick-fix solution available. There is a serious political and legal situation that must be examined and discussed. Those are the facts of the matter and any suggestion to the contrary would be to minimise the position.

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