Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have just explained that the agenda has been outlined. The Foreign Ministers deal with issues relating to the Middle East on an ongoing basis. It was envisaged when Mr. Van Rompuy took over the job that perhaps, at one of the European Councils during the course of the year, part of the meeting would be devoted to some foreign policy issues. I presume it would arise in that context, as part of an agreed agenda. When a President of the Council is appointed to run and set the agenda for the Council, this or that will not arise under "any other business". That is not the way it works, but there are other Council formations where those issues are a continuing part of the agenda. Questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs as to where any of those dossiers lie at the moment, will elicit the appropriate information, but this is not relevant for these questions. To suggest that it is, is disingenuous.

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