Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

-----lack of attendance at meetings. I refer him to a Swedish research paper. It was categoric that, during the past decade, the Irish Government was fifth out of the 27 member states in terms of attendance. I can give this substantive piece of academic research to the Taoiseach. It was objectively done by Swedish researchers, not by anyone here. I did not create the political spin about tours.

It is important that we circulate positions on some of these issues because Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy are circulating papers. When one meets other European leaders and speaks with them, they worry about the lack of a communautaire approach. It is not a Europe of France and Germany. It is a Europe of the 27.

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