Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together.

I attended the December meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 16 and 17 December. As I will make a statement to the House later, I will confine myself to a summary account of the proceedings. The agenda of the Council was dominated by economic issues. The Heads of State and Government agreed that the EU treaties should be amended in a limited way to provide for the establishment of a permanent mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the eurozone. It is intended that this permanent mechanism would come into being in 2013 and would replace the temporary mechanism established last year. The other relevant institutions, including the European Parliament and the European Commission, will be consulted on the text of the proposed amendment before its formal adoption next March.

Each member state will then aim to complete its national ratification process by the end of 2012 in order that the treaty change can take effect at the start of 2013. I am confident that the text is compatible with the Constitution. If an amendment to the Constitution arises, a referendum will not be required for Ireland to ratify the treaty change. The European Council, in the context of a broader discussion on economic matters, welcomed a statement by the Heads of State or Government of the euro area and the EU institutions which made clear that they stand ready to do whatever is required to ensure stability of the euro area as a whole and which called for determined action in a number of areas.

The European Council was also informed of ongoing work on the evaluation of the European Union's relations with its strategic partners, including the US, Russia and China. While in Brussels, I also attended a pre-Council meeting of the European Liberal Democrat Party, ELDR, on 16 December. I have no formal plans for a meeting with the President of the European Commission but I will see President Barroso at the next meeting of the European Council on 4 February, which is expected to focus on energy and innovation.

I have not yet received a finalised agenda for the March meeting of the European Council, though the custom is for this meeting to focus on economic issues, including growth and reform.

I have not finalised travel plans for 2011.

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