Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Great challenges lie ahead and the Government is by no means understating them. Ireland and the European Union are in a very difficult position. The Deputy asked about the timetable but I do not have one, as there is none. The Government has asked for time and space to analyse the underlying issues, both in respect of the campaign and underlying attitudes to the European Union. This will enable us to map our way forward in consultation with the European Union members. Similar problems have arisen in the past, going back as far as 1992, and the European Union, working collectively, has managed to overcome such scenarios and setbacks.

The Deputy asked whether the others could sign. They cannot. The Lisbon treaty requires ratification by 27 member states. That is the legal position and the British Foreign Secretary has made this clear on a number of occasions. Moreover, this is acknowledged across the European Union. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting earlier this week it was refreshing to hear articulated a genuine sense of solidarity that there is no desire to opt for 26 and to leave one behind. People want to find a solution to this issue. That is the position.

Deputy Timmins asked a question on the second Nice treaty and the Commissioner. He is correct in that the Nice treaty, under which we operate, provides for the number of Commissioners to be reduced in the first Commission to take office following the accession of the 27th member state. As the Deputy suggested, this means the Commission which will take office at the end of 2009 must have fewer than 27 members. Moreover, as he correctly stated, this must be done by unanimous decision of the Council on the basis of equal rotation between the member states. However, in contrast to the Lisbon treaty, the Nice treaty does not detail how the Commission will be reduced. This means that under the present treaties, the number of Commissioners must be reduced from next year. This was articulated at last Monday's meeting and is the first piece of work that will exercise the European Union at the end of this year.

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