Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I was happy to attend the EPP summit meeting prior to the recent Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday, 29 and Friday, 30 October. The Lisbon treaty referendum campaign here was without rancour in terms of the parties that supported the treaty and indeed was without the aggression of the previous campaign which was in the interest of everybody. I would like to thank all the people who were involved in any way and made a contribution to informing the electorate so that people could cast their votes as fully informed as possible about the issues either for or against. Obviously, I was very happy that there was an overwhelming endorsement of the Lisbon treaty.

Probably at the Council meeting itself and certainly at the meeting I attended there genuinely was real appreciation by European leaders of how the Irish people had gone about their business at a time when it is fair to say the Government was not riding high in the popularity stakes. The electorate here was very well able to distinguish between the issues of domestic politics and the European question, including the future of Europe and the support Europe has given us and will give us in the future. In that context it was a remarkable democratic decision by the Irish people, fully endorsing the Lisbon treaty and what that will lead to in the future.

In a peculiar way the fact that European leaders have not yet decided about the presidency and the high representative is normal for European politics as the Taoiseach is well aware. Around in the corridors, as it were, and certainly in the shadows there is mention of the names of people who would like to put their names in lights and might be afraid to do so. These matters always have a tendency to drift until the last minute. From the discussions I had with people out there, the assumption certainly was that the President of the Council would come from the EPP Grouping and, as it does not have an overall majority in the Parliament, the high representative would come from the Socialist Group. These positions may be reversed depending on the discussions that are taking place between the Government leaders and so on.

I believe the appointment of the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, would be in Europe's interest in the sense that he led a Government here which in European terms was conservative and socialist, was appointed by Europe to go to America to explain to Democrats and Republicans what Europe was about, sat on the convention and presidium dealing with the original proposed constitution and, as the Taoiseach has recognised, has had a genuine interest in the entire European process on that big broad plain of where we go. It is not as if this is someone looking for the start of a political career. There is an opportunity here in the event that he comes into play for real consideration. If, as may well be, the decision in Europe is to offer him, for example, the high representative position instead of the presidency, the Taoiseach might have to appoint him as Commissioner because, as he pointed out, the high representative must be a member of the Commission. In a non-political sense to have an Irish candidate for either of these two positions is a great honour for the country and Mr. Bruton would acquit himself with great distinction.

Following the recognition by the Council that the future for Europe is to get back to creating jobs, Chancellor Merkel has said she intends to drive the German economy - that mighty machine - to create jobs on a vast scale. I hope other countries follow suit and that, in our own way, the budget to be presented in December will contain a jobs stimulus.

I am getting many inquiries about revisiting our position on the Schengen Agreement. It seems that the visa requirements and the restrictions over entry into Ireland are causing many obstructions. I know we did not join in the beginning because of the consequences of having Border controls at Newry and elsewhere as well as with England. Given the changes in passports, there are a number of complications and perhaps that issue might be reviewed.

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