Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together.

On 7 April, my predecessor, Deputy Bertie Ahern met the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering. Discussions focused on the ratification and importance of the reform treaty and the European Commission's proposals on climate change. Deputy Ahern welcomed the European Parliament's engagement on the issue of climate change and the broad support MEPs gave to the Commission's proposals.

On 14 April, my predecessor met with Chancellor Angela Merkel on her first visit to Ireland. I joined my predecessor and Chancellor Merkel briefly before their working dinner. During their meeting, they discussed the reform treaty, arrangements for the referendum on 12 June, current EU issues and bilateral relations between our two countries.

I had a brief but useful meeting with the French Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Michel Barnier, when he paid a courtesy call to Government Buildings on 9 May. Mr. Barnier was in Ireland for a series of engagements with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith.

Our discussions were dominated by the World Trade Organisation negotiations as Ireland and France share a position on a large portion of the negotiations, particularly concerning agriculture. Indeed, on 3 June, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the French Foreign Minister, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, issued a joint statement expressing serious concerns about the balance in the current state of the WTO negotiations.

I attended the European Council in Brussels on 19 and 20 June and was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Dick Roche. As I will make a statement to the House on the European Council shortly, I will at this stage merely give a summary account of its proceedings.

Discussions at the Council covered the implications of high global food and oil prices, other economic, social and environmental issues, freedom, security and justice matters, the western Balkans, external relations including the Barcelona Process and the Union for the Mediterranean, which will be launched at a summit in Paris in July involving EU and Mediterranean Heads of State or Government. The Council adopted conclusions in the areas of justice and home affairs including immigration, asylum and visa issues. We noted progress on the EU's climate and energy targets by 2020 and welcomed progress on the internal energy market. The Council also adopted conclusions on external relations. A copy of the European Council conclusions has been placed in the Oireachtas Library.

A discussion on the outcome of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty was held over dinner for Heads of State or Government on Thursday evening. I gave my initial assessment of the result and listened to the reactions of other Heads of State or Government. I outlined that the Government fully accepted and respected the result of the Irish referendum. We now need time to engage in serious and careful analysis of its outcome and implications. In response, our European partners showed solidarity with Ireland and undoubtedly saw that the outcome of the referendum posed a challenge for Europe as well as for Ireland. We agreed that we would come back to this issue at the next meeting of the European Council in October.

In advance of the European Council, I had separate scheduled meetings with the current President of the European Council, Prime Minister Janez Janša of Slovenia, the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

In addition to the scheduled meetings, I also took the opportunity to speak with many of my colleagues at Head of State or Government level. In each case, I gave a brief account of the outcome of the referendum and listened to the reaction. I am pleased to say that in discussions with the French President, who takes over the Presidency of the European Council on 1 July, we agreed that he will travel to Dublin on 11 July to hold discussions on the French Presidency programme as well as further discussions on the referendum outcome.

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