Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. What soundings has he taken from Foreign Ministers in the European Union regarding ambassador John Bruton's interest in the position of President of the European Union? Having looked at the CVs of all the candidates mentioned for the job, I believe Mr. Bruton is well qualified. He has served for five years as European Union ambassador to the United States. This must be borne in mind considering the Union is going through an important transition and given Ireland's ratification of the Lisbon treaty, in respect of which the focus of the Union was on us in the first week of October. Ambassador Bruton is a former Vice President of the European People's Party and was Taoiseach between 1995 and 1997. Everybody believes he put us on the road to economic recovery at that stage. His contact with ambassadors from the EU member states in Washington and with US Senators and Congressmen makes him well qualified for the job.

The Minister's support for ambassador Bruton has been lukewarm. There are three strong contenders for the job, the Prime Ministers of Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. Has the Minister for Foreign Affairs made contact informally with other Foreign Ministers and has the Taoiseach contacted the Swedish Presidency?

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