Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

First, I do not have a draft of the text of the conclusions with me but I will ask that our people pick up on the technical drafting issue raised by Deputy Gilmore. We will provide an answer to him on that having got the text. From memory, I cannot recall the issue raised by him.

The second point raised by Deputy Gilmore relates to the Attorney General's advice. The normal approach is that we would inform the House. We will be doing so in the statements on the outcome of the meeting of the European Council. We will put on the record of the House the fact that it is the view of the Government based on the advice of the Attorney General that this is not an issue that requires a referendum.

I will have to check what the convention is on these matters. I do not wish to set a precedent either so I will check what is the room for manoeuvre regarding the availability of the advices themselves. Usually what happens in such cases is that the Taoiseach puts on the record of the House the position of the Government based on the Attorney General's advices and gives a general reasoning behind it as distinct from the specific advices themselves. I will check on the matter.

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