Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge that there were many international figures who played their part in encouraging this to come about, not least Mary Robinson and Nelson Mandela. We could name many others. A variety of voices, including that of my party president, have made a useful and positive contribution to encourage this development. Given our unique experience within the European context, have any approaches been made or has any encouragement been offered from the Government to either the Spanish or French Governments to seize this moment and opportunity and view it for what it is, a momentous and historic development that should be seized and built upon in the development of a peace process? Will the Taoiseach undertake to do this if it has not been done already? At the next Council meeting will the Taoiseach use the opportunity to encourage a collective initiative throughout the European Union in support of these developments, especially, as my colleague has just reminded me, since the Taoiseach is our new Minister for Foreign Affairs?

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