Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

On the same issue, we seem to discover more information from the media than we do in this House in regard to the Government's intentions. Certainly, there is more information in today's The Irish Times, namely, that the Government is apparently negotiating a protocol that would be introduced with some future accession treaty for Croatia, which is more than the Taoiseach has said in the House. We have no idea of what the content of the guarantees might be and there is no opportunity to debate the matter in the House. When will that happen?

What is indicated in the media today is that the Taoiseach would present something of a fait accompli at the summit on 15 June. When will we have an opportunity to know what is in the mind of the Taoiseach in regard to the content and method of implementation? This House and the Opposition parties deserve to know. Nothing at all has taken place since the middle of December last in regard to informing, discussing or consulting with the other Members of this House as to the intentions of the Taoiseach and what direction he is taking. If he negotiates a deal with the other countries without discussing it in this House, what will happen? We do not want a repeat of the situation which happened the last time.

See this speech in context