Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

Who will be the lead Minister in regard to the national reform programme the European Council has now tasked each member state to adopt? The framework that was discussed at the last Council meeting will be adopted in June, as I understand it. Once that is done, each country must produce its own national reform programme. What will Ireland do in this regard? Will we put the new Minister with responsibility for innovation and enterprise in charge and will his be the lead Ministry?

What Ministry is in charge of employment? Will employment be the lead area in the 2020 strategy? These are the important issues we need to discuss. It is an area that should be part and parcel of a broader discussion rather than simply being left to a Minister, with something being drawn up by the Civil Service and the Department. We need a broad discussion in the House on this matter, and I would certainly like to see that happen.

With regard to climate change, unfortunately, we made little or no progress at Copenhagen. As the Taoiseach said, it was a great disappointment. There seems to be very little sign of progress at present. Who is the lead person in the EU in this regard? Is it the President of the European Council, who will convene a meeting in September to consider the global issues of climate, or is it the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy? Where is the dividing line? Will they both be involved? Much international negotiation is required if we are to get a global deal. We made a commitment under the Lisbon Treaty that climate change would be an area in which the EU would be the world leader. I want to know where we stand in Europe. Who will actually lead in Europe on climate change and what will the direction be?

The European external action service proposals that were made by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have all, as I understand it, been shot down by the Parliament. What was the position of the Council and was this discussed at the Council meeting and at the Commission? Are the Commission and Council ad idem with the Parliament on this matter? There seem to be many perceived flaws in the proposals that were put forward on the external action service. What is Ireland's position on these matters?

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