Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the question on the conclusions in December and what they mean, we obtained political commitments and we are now embarking on detailed discussions as to what legal texts can be agreed with partners regarding the issues outlined in the December conclusions. The change that will take place in respect of the Commissioner can be taken by decision of the European Council but the assurances we can find to give legal effect to concerns identified as influential for some people in deciding to vote against is an exercise in democracy. It is precisely that, it is about listening to what people have said, identifying their concerns and how we can seek to assuage those concerns. The decision is respected since no treaty can come into place unless all 27 member states sign up to it. That is a clear indication that the decision of the Irish people is respected since the treaty cannot come into effect without our consent.

Regarding the work being undertaken at the moment, it is the job of the Government to proceed with that based on the political commitments we have received. If there is a successful outcome to these discussions and if there is prospective agreement from partners we can make their views known and make the terms known to the people for a debate in the House. We require a European Council meeting at Heads of Government and State level to adopt those protocols and commitments on which we received political agreement in December.

Regarding our future participation in the Union, there are consequences to decisions. Were we to have these commitments agreed to, were they to be satisfactory, were we to hold a referendum and were we to vote "No" again then obviously the other member states of the EU in agreement with the Lisbon treaty would have to see how they want to proceed. We would remain members of the Union but it is very much open to question whether, as was suggested, we would remain as influential as we have been given that all decisions carry consequences, both positive and negative, depending on the extent to which they contribute to a consensus that is otherwise there. This is a work in progress and there is more work to be done. As soon as it is completed we will be in a better position to assess where we will go from there.

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