Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I have no wish to prolong the issue. However I strongly believe this issue must be pursued with more vigour by the Government. I have seen the statement issued by the EU Foreign Ministers. It makes no reference to Israel, good, bad or indifferent. A more vigorous approach to this is necessary given the seriousness of the issue.

I refer to another matter to which these questions relate, that is, the meeting of the European Commission. This is a new Commission and I take this opportunity of wishing well the Irish Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in her five year term of office that she is now starting. Will the Taoiseach indicate if her appointment was conditional on the employment of a member of the Green Party as a member of her cabinet? Did the leader of the Green Party secure an understanding from him that the former Senator de Búrca would be appointed to Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn's cabinet? Did the Taoiseach offer the post of chef de cabinet of the new Irish member of the Court of Auditors to the former Senator de Búrca by way of compensation, as the former Senator de Búrca claims?

See this speech in context