Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The position is that I will confirm to the European Council the outcome of the referendum, give our assessment as to the reasons for this outcome and begin a process of dialogue with our partners to determine what are their views on the matter and how we can go forward. As I said, the indications at the General Affairs Council meeting on Monday were that our partners wish to demonstrate solidarity to Ireland, respecting the decision but obviously trying to determine where Europe goes and how it develops from here.

All of us, including Deputy Ó Caoláin and his party, have been involved in negotiations. One does not get what one sets out to achieve at the beginning. One has to listen to the points of view of others and try to see if one can move from where one is to another position in a way that is agreeable to all. That is the point. Everybody can have a view about what the European Union is or is not but at the end of the day the agreement of everybody is required. This means entering into these discussions in good faith, with a view to trying to confirm what I understood everybody in this jurisdiction was claiming, namely, that we are pro-Europe and pro-European Union and do not want to be marginalised, isolated or disadvantaged in the European Union. My job, as Taoiseach, is to try to uphold our national interests and maintain our position in the Union, while recognising that the people made a decision last Thursday.

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