Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In recent times, only very optimistic people thought a treaty would be signed at Copenhagen. What is possible - the Danish chairmanship remains very committed to it - is obtaining a political framework to enable the detailed legal work to ensue after a global deal is achieved, hopefully at Copenhagen. It does not do that prospect any justice to suggest that in some way the Danes, in undertaking the onerous task as chair of this process, are in any way resiling from that commitment or effort. On the contrary, there has been an intensification at EU level to provide leadership in this area. At its recent meeting, the European Council confirmed that. In fact, the Commission President and the Swedish Presidency have been working hard in recent weeks - including trips to India, China and the United States - to try to ensure that other partners in this process will provide the same commitment to financial aspects of a global deal, as the Europeans have. I do not think the Deputy is correct in his assessment of the situation.

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