Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Since that meeting, the Taoiseach will be aware of developments taking place. As I pointed out yesterday, 22 of the 27 countries have nominated their personnel for consideration for commissionerships. The Swedish Prime Minister has said there will be a summit meeting of Heads of Government on 19 November at which I hope the decision on the appointment of a President of the Council will be concluded. He also said this appointment would almost certainly be one of the sitting Heads of Government or a former Head of Government.

It appears there is some fluctuation in the names going forward for the position of High Representative and President of the Council. I am glad the Taoiseach and the Government support an Irish candidate for the position of President of the Council, namely, former Taoiseach, John Bruton. I hope that as the week moves on, it will be possible to build on that application.

What Europe needs now, in the context of the Presidency of the Council, is not somebody who wants to be out front as the person who epitomises Europe in all its respects but somebody who can tie the ambitions of the countries together and consolidate Europe's current position before it moves on to the next phase of being able to stand against the Far East and emerging phenomena around the world in financial terms, in terms of globalisation, climate change and so on. From that point of view, I welcome the Taoiseach's support for a former Taoiseach. Has he received any further information from any of the Heads of Government or other sources as to whether this matter is being finalised either in the context of the High Representative, who will have to be a Commissioner, or the President of the Council itself?

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