Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Following on from that, will the Taoiseach tell the House how much progress has been made in terms of agreeing texts on the declarations agreements, protocols and so on which are to be finalised, presumably at the June summit? At what point will Opposition parties in the House be informed on what is happening with those texts? We have had no discussion or consultation about this since last December and I should like to know the up-to-date position and how much progress has been made.

I understand the discussion of those texts is being undertaken with the Czech Presidency. Given the loss of confidence in the Czech Government by that country's Parliament and the implications of that for the Czech Presidency, how is it intended to progress those discussions on the texts? If, as it appears, there is now some ambiguity about the position of the current Czech Government and how the remaining period of its Presidency will be managed and who, precisely, will have responsibility within the government for the conduct of foreign affairs, including European matters, does the Taoiseach still expect these matters to be finalised in time for the June summit? As the responsibility lies with the Czech Presidency to bring the proposals before the summit, and presumably clear the way for agreement in advance with the other member states, is the Taoiseach confident that this can now be done? It seems there are now two areas of uncertainty. One is in relation to the texts and the second concerns the capacity or potential of the Czech Presidency to deliver the agreement in June that will be required if there is to be a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty in the autumn.

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