Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

They believed that there was an institutional balance to be arrived at and had no difficulty articulating the view that they believe a reduced Commission would lead to more efficiency and so forth. They have articulated this view publicly and within the Council. Others had reservations earlier in the negotiating phase. I respect the positions they presented to us. This was a difficult and substantial issue. It was a major concession by our colleagues to Ireland to agree to change the situation in regard to implementation of the Lisbon treaty.

Deputy Ó Caoláin continually uses the word "declaration". We never used that word. That word is not contained in the conclusions or used in any public articulation of the issues. I have nothing against the word "declaration". One of the most far-reaching declarations we ever had was the "Downing Street Declaration" with which Sinn Féin had no problem. What we have referred to here are "decisions" of the European Council which in themselves have legal validity.

What we are talking about in this regard is a decision from the European Council which has undertaken to give robust legal guarantees that would have treaty status and will be attached to the treaties. Obviously, these will be attached to the treaties at the time of the next accession treaty, which potentially is the Croatian accession. There is a precedent in this regard in terms of the Danish experience. This is far better than Deputy Ó Caoláin ever thought we would get.

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