Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not see any reason to change the term of office of the President of Ireland, as seven years is a proper and adequate length. I am not aware of any major public demand to change the term.

On the other questions, if the treaty of Lisbon is not ratified before May 2009, the European Parliament elections will have to be held under the existing arrangements. The question of whether that will be the case depends on the work that is ongoing. I cannot anticipate the outcome of the December Council or what its conclusions will be. Obviously, member states would like to bring some clarity to the issue of the basis for the holding the elections at that point. Many of their selection arrangements will, I am sure, kick in and the list systems in countries with various methods of selection will come into play on these issues. That issue may be addressed at the December Council meeting.

However, it is idle to speculate beyond the fact that we are engaged in this process and we have undertaken with colleagues to proceed with our efforts. Come December, it is the hope of all 27 member states that we will be in a position to set out the elements of a roadmap so that certainty and clarity are brought to issues in order to address some of the uncertainties to which the Deputy referred.

In regard to the Commission, I could not offer a substitute for the legal advice of the Commission and the Council's legal services on these matters in terms of the practical arrangements which might be found. In purely legal terms, I would not think there is much leeway beyond the tenure itself. Some form of minor extension may be possible but I do not think it could be done as simply as was suggested.

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