Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Discussions are taking place with legal services and our people on the texts. Discussions are ongoing and that is part of the process. As soon as it becomes clear that a meeting of minds has been arrived at which meets requirements and has been gauged to have the necessary support, we can talk to the Opposition about what the situation then is, based on texts which we will know have passed muster with the member states that need to give their approval to the work that is ongoing.

As I understand it, the Czech Government will continue in office until the Presidency is over, based on what I was advised yesterday, when this matter was brought to my attention. I do not have any further news on that. The situation is not unprecedented. I believe, if memory serve me right, that during the Slovenian Presidency which had, perhaps, a month to go, when the Prime Minister was defeated in an election, he continued in his position and discharged his functions as President of the Council until the June Council meeting last year. It happened in recent times at any rate. Mr. Topolanek will be allowed to continue in his role, I understand, as caretaker Prime Minister until the Presidency is concluded and the parliamentary vote of no-confidence will not in any way take away from his ability to conduct EU matters as President of the Council on that basis.

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