Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With respect to the Deputy, the questions relate to visits I may undertake in the coming period. His first supplementary question was about the progress that has been made in the continuing interaction between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and its counterpart in Britain regarding developments at Sellafield, for example, and I indicated that for the purposes of an updated, accurate reply, it would be best to table that question to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Such a supplementary was not envisaged in the context of the questions tabled to me regarding the matters outlined in them.

Second, as I stated in my earlier reply, the Government deals with the British Government on this matter on an ongoing basis but a question about it without notice in regard to ministerial responsibility should be taken up with the Minister who can update the Deputy.

Third, I refer to his surprise that this issue is not on the agenda of the British-Irish Council. The agenda has been set for some time in regard to the various governments and administrations that will attend the meeting based on the work that goes on there. We would take up bilaterally with the British Government any development where we see a possible problem for us and it would not come within the ambit of the British-Irish Council. That deals with strand three issues under the Good Friday Agreement. We could take up the question of examining energy requirements for the jurisdictions generally with them.

With regard to the question about the UN Secretary General, I do not understand why the Deputy should suggest there was surprise on his part regarding Ireland's record in this area. We are in the top eight in the world per head of population in the provision of overseas development aid not only to the UN and its agencies, of which we have been a strong supporter, but also through our bilateral programmes. When the Secretary General gets an opportunity to visit Ireland, it would be totally within his remit to commend successive Governments on the fact that among the 164 UN members we are in the top eight in the provision of overseas development aid according to our capacity.

See this speech in context