Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said earlier in response to Deputy Costello's party leader, a motion relating to the guarantee scheme will be proposed for the approval of the House later this week. The motion is being introduced on foot of an amendment to primary legislation that was passed in the House recently. In light of the importance of the matter, and the need to bring clarity and certainty to the issue, the motion needs to be taken on Friday without further amendment. I would have thought we should not jeopardise the approval we have received from the European Commission by amending the scheme at this stage. I am giving an undertaking that the parameters of the scheme are broadly in line with what we discussed during the debate on the legislation and will further discuss on Friday. Everyone will have ample opportunity to ask whatever questions they wish about the scheme. Deputies will be able to decide whether they wish to vote for its approval.

The Deputy also asked about tomorrow's European Council meeting. It will be my second time to attend such a meeting as Taoiseach. As I agreed to do at the Council meeting in June, I will furnish a progress report on the aftermath of the referendum on the Lisbon treaty referring to the fact that a parliamentary committee has been set up that will report before the December Council meeting on how it sees things proceeding. The Government will also engage with the French Presidency.

See this speech in context