Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Absolutely. All of my comments to the Deputy are always complimentary.

On the issue of the Commissioner, President Barroso will not proceed with the composition of the Commission until the High Representative has been appointed. He made that point to me when I spoke to him last Saturday in the aftermath of the result on the Lisbon treaty referendum.

I make the point also that many incumbent Commissioners are being appointed for a second term. To date some 11 or 12 Governments have indicated their current Commissioners will be their nominees for this term. Whether they will remain in existing positions, President Barroso cannot determine. He has informed me that no decision has been taken on the composition of the Commission nor can it be until the High Representative's name is available to him.

On whether the decision will be made in October, the European Council will not make its decision in respect of the High Representative until late October and as such the matter of the composition of the Commission will be dealt with beyond that.

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