Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will try not to stray.

In the context of the meetings of the Cabinet committee on European affairs, has consideration been given to specific individuals who may replace the President of the European Council, Mr. Herman Van Rompuy, or High Representative, Baroness Catherine Ashton? If so, to what extent has the Government engaged with these potential replacements on the issues that have been raised in respect of retrospective recapitalisation? Will the replacements be announced at the forthcoming summit meeting or are further delays anticipated?

In terms of the Taoiseach's engagement with the replacements, may the House assume that his support for a new High Representative and, more important, a new President of the Council, will be contingent on the level of support the candidates will give to Ireland on retrospective recapitalisation? In terms of the timescale for this vital initiative, may we also assume from the Taoiseach's reply that the Government may make an application for retrospective recapitalisation towards the end of this year? If that is the case, when does the Taoiseach expect our EU partners to make a decision on the matter?

We all welcome the intervention in Gaza by Egypt as it attempts to broker a ceasefire and all of us will use this occasion to condemn the slaughter of the innocent we have witnessed recently. As an Irishman and a European, it has saddened me greatly on this occasion and on many previous occasions that, time and again, it is the Americans who are at the centre of intervention, whether on the issue of Ukraine or on the age-old problem of Israel and Palestine. The European Union must appoint a High Commissioner on foreign affairs who will actively engage on the issue of Ukraine given that he or she is more likely to be successful in terms of an approach to the Russian authorities.

On Gaza, Palestine and Israel, it is horrific to note the decline of the Palestinian economy. Is there an opportunity for the Cabinet committee to engage in discussions on the economic crisis facing 1.8 million people in Palestine and how the Palestinian economy could be developed to meet their needs? I understand a critical problem is developing in the water supply to Palestinian people. If, in addition to a failed economy and energy supply system, the water supply fails, it will spell disaster.

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