Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Does the Minister believe the EU will be paralysed by the non-ratification of the Lisbon treaty as some commentators would have us believe? Does he agree that the level of EU legislation, proposals and directives coming before the Oireachtas is at an all-time high and shows the opposite to paralysis?

Does the Minister accept that rather than apologising to EU leaders for the "No" vote, which was the extent of the Taoiseach's speech, and continuously reassuring them that the Irish people remain committed to a European identity, he should acknowledge our support for the EU identity and the Union but be more forceful in putting forward the Irish mandate, which was to state the Lisbon treaty was at an end?

I welcome the Minister's acceptance that it will be the Taoiseach who will have the final say with regard to the reduction of the number of Commissioners. If we have one less Commissioner from 1 November, it will be in the Taoiseach's lap and he will have to vote on it. The vote from Ireland on the Lisbon treaty superseded that on the Nice treaty in stating we did not want a reduction in the number of Commissioners and that people wish to retain it. This is the interpretation of the Lisbon vote.

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