Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I was happy to attend in Brussels with the leaders of the European People's Party, EPP. All the prime ministers were there except the Belgian Prime Minister who had to attend a state visit from the King of Jordan. All those leaders were very much in favour of supporting Ireland's case for the guarantees that were promised last September. I was happy to see at the conclusion of the Council meeting that our European counterparts delivered on these guarantees.

There was never any intention of changing the Lisbon treaty. People who voted 'No' say there has been no change in the treaty but there was no intention of so doing. I never favoured the reopening of the ratification process in other countries. The conclusion of the Council meeting creates much greater clarity in the matters of concern to people, the ethical issues, European defence and security, taxation, conscription and so on, including workers' rights. That leaves an opportunity for all the parties that support the treaty to campaign in such a way that people can be fully and comprehensively informed when they go to vote about what is and is not in the treaty.

Did the Taoiseach invite any of the leaders of our EU partners to visit Ireland before October, either in respect of the broad question of co-operation with Europe or specifically of matters of interest to Ireland?

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