Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I will come to that. I believe there should be agreement in the House on the election of a new Ceann Comhairle. That is why I suggested that there should be a meeting or a discussion among the party leaders about it. I put that suggestion to the Taoiseach again.

In respect of the appointment of the EU Commissioner, I do not accept that this should be an office that is in the gift of the Government. We have had two referenda on the Lisbon treaty and we agreed it was necessary to ratify the treaty in the country's interest. The right to have a Commissioner appointed was secured before the second referendum took place. The holder of the Commissioner post should be seen as a representative of the country rather than the parties in government. There should, therefore, be agreement across the House on who should be appointed and there should certainly be consultation on the matter.

The Taoiseach should not proceed with the appointment of a new Commissioner on the basis that it is in the Government's gift and the Commissioner is a Government appointee. Last Friday's decision was made by the people and the Government should respond to that. A great deal of political generosity was shown by Fine Gael and the Labour Party in respect of support for the treaty and by the people who went to the polls last Friday and voted to ratify the treaty and continue our position in and strong link with the European Union, notwithstanding their dislike of the Government. Now that the referendum is over, it is wrong of the Taoiseach to state that the appointment of Commissioner is the prerogative of the Government. There should be consultation on the appointment of the Commissioner and the appropriate person should be appointed. I put it to the Taoiseach again that he should agree to have such consultation.

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