Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I will begin by saying that it would be preferable for these debates to take place in advance of Council meetings rather than afterwards. Hindsight is a great thing but if the Parliament is to perform its function in respect of the Executive, it is important that we have an opportunity for input. Perhaps it is something that can be discussed among the Whips.

I lend my support to the candidacy of the former Taoiseach, Mr. John Bruton, for the position of President of the European Council. I hope the Taoiseach will not be a reluctant supporter of Mr. Bruton's candidacy but rather an active advocate. Mr. Bruton is not just an Irish person who happens to be seeking the Presidency of the European Council; he is an Irish person with a substantial record of public service both to this country and to the European Union. As such, he is in a position to make a hugely valuable input to the future of the European project.

It is apt that we are discussing a Council meeting which was dominated by the ratification of the Lisbon treaty. All discussions regarding Europe have been dominated by the institutional paralysis within the Union for almost eight years. The Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, both played an important part in ensuring the ratification of the Lisbon treaty, as did Deputy Bruton and many others on both sides of the House. We have spent a long time seeking to formulate and devise a path forward; now that the first step on that road is achieved, there is a great opportunity to shape and influence how the Union conducts its business, including how it meets the challenges of economic recession and climate change.

The Oireachtas has work to do in examining how best to implement the much enhanced and strengthened role of national parliaments under the terms and provisions of the Lisbon treaty. I hope the Taoiseach will give some consideration to this. I already raised the issue with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, at last week's meeting of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. There is an opportunity now for the Oireachtas, perhaps through a sub-committee, to look at how we should seek to enhance the role of national parliaments and to shape policy in that regard from an Irish perspective. There is no doubt that developments in the European Union are set to gallop ahead; I understand the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament has already issued a report on the issue. Instead of reacting, we should seek to shape developments in this area. I urge the Taoiseach to consider the matter at Cabinet and in discussions with the Minister, Deputy Martin, and Minister of State, Deputy Roche.

In regard to the Council meeting itself, I very much support the European Union taking a leading role on the global stage in setting ambitious targets for itself and others in regard to climate change. However, I am concerned at this point in time that we may threaten our own competitiveness and put in danger the opportunity for job creation in the European Union and for making the Union more competitive in the global economy. That must be borne in mind. It may well be a positive that the outcome of these discussions, rather than being legally binding, is more likely to be in the nature of a political agreement. Perhaps it will be better to work towards a treaty in the future when we have brought on board the developing countries as well as the United States to the extent that they have bought into the type of leadership the European Union has been advocating. We cannot go it alone but must instead ensure full engagement from all partners and stakeholders.

I noted the reports in yesterday's media regarding the extension of the deadline from 2013 to 2014 for Ireland to achieve its target of reducing its budget deficit to 3% of GDP. I understand this will be discussed at the ECOFIN meeting on 3 December, but I assume there will also be some reference to it at the forthcoming special Council meeting. I hope the extension of the deadline will not be used as a get-out clause in the December budget, that is, as an opportunity to avoid some of the tough decisions that must be taken in the national interest. The longer we put off the decisions that must be taken, the more painful it will be for us all in the long term. We appreciate the latitude being shown to Ireland by the European Commission, which is reflective of the realities of our situation, but it must not be used as a means of putting off until next year what needs to be done this year for the sake of the Irish people. I urge the Taoiseach to reflect on that.

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