Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for that reply. Following the generosity he showed in the last conversation we had about this matter, can I express the hope that he will keep the leaders and relevant spokespersons of the various Opposition parties fully briefed on these matters? As he is aware, Fine Gael strongly supports the Lisbon treaty, the endorsement of which is absolutely necessary if the European Union is to be strengthened. The concerns of the Irish people should be the subject of the strongest possible protections. I hope the Government will keep Opposition Members fully informed.

All economic analyses reckon that Russia's massive reserves of oil and gas will help it to move into the top ten over the next 15 years. Its difficulty with Ukraine is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of many western European countries. I was present at a meeting in Brussels at which the President of Ukraine mentioned that Ukraine wants to join the EU at some point. It certainly wants to do business with Europe. If some unforeseen circumstance were to lead to gas supplies from Russia being cut off and energy security becoming even more critical — God forbid — what level of strategic reserves would this country be able to call on? What would our position be if such a possibility came to pass? Does the Taoiseach propose to engage in discussions with his European counterparts to move this agenda forward quickly? It is intended that the Lisbon treaty will guarantee energy security for all EU member states, which is something we would strongly support. The evidence in this country makes that absolutely critical. It should be a priority of the Government.

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