Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the proposal to make a treaty change to accommodate the establishment of a permanent mechanism for financial stability and the stabilisation fund. I understand it is the intention that the President of the Council will report back to the December summit. Does the Taoiseach expect that the President of the Council, Mr. Van Rompuy, will make a proposal to the December summit with regard to a proposed treaty change?

Is it considered that such a treaty change would require a referendum in this State? The Taoiseach will recall that at the time the Lisbon treaty was passed it was understood by all parties in the House and by the public that it was unlikely that there would be further treaty-amending referenda for some time, that institutional issues had been resolved as far as the European Union was concerned for the foreseeable future. Does he anticipate that the proposed change will give rise to a referendum?

Has any consideration been given to the implications of Article 48 of the Lisbon treaty which speaks in fairly explicit terms about the necessity for a convention if treaty changes are being considered? Is it intended that a convention would be convened arising from any proposal that the President of the Council would make?

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