Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

What I told the Deputy in response to the question is that, where the main responsibility lies with a Minister or Minister of State, the Department will transfer a question to him or her. The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, the Tánaiste and I, as Head of Government, will have a direct involvement in the preparations for the Presidency, as will all other Ministers. In fact, I discussed this at some length with President Buzek the other morning when he visited Ireland as President of the European Parliament. We discussed the intense involvement of every Minister during the six-month period of the Presidency, which will be crucial for Ireland and Europe in a range of areas. This is why I have issued an instruction to all of our Ministers and Minsters of State to attend at their informal Council meetings and begin to make real contact with their counterparts so that, when this comes along, they will be well acquainted with the issues and the facts. It appears that a number of very big decisions may not be made before the end of 2012 and will have to be made during Ireland's Presidency.

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