Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure the Tánaiste would. Under our coalition agreement, the Tánaiste will bring a name to Cabinet for consideration. What Deputy Haughey said about the importance of timeliness is a statement of fact in this regard, and I and the Tánaiste share that view. I should say that the process is as the Deputy said. The European Council last night took stock of the European elections at an informal meeting.

With respect to Deputy Ó Murchú, it was never a meeting that had a legal basis to make a decision. That will be the European Council meeting next Thursday and Friday. Obviously, once a President of the Commission is in place, it is then member states formally submit the names of their Commissioners or Commissioners-designate. I share the view that clarity around the name in the coming weeks, which is the plan of the Government, would be good in our national interest because that then allows us to engage with the Commission President on portfolios and trying to ensure the portfolio is a good fit for the person Ireland sends and a good fit for Ireland in terms of policy interests and national interests we may have.

The approach I took last night was, I think, the approach that was taken by all members of the European Council, which is that there needs to be a balanced approach. There are four positions, as the Deputy rightly said: President of the Parliament, which is dealt with by the Parliament, and President of the Council, President of the Commission and the High Representative for foreign affairs. It is important that there is a balanced approach to that package of roles that reflects the democratic outcome of the European election results and also tries to take into consideration other things in terms of the size of member states and geography, where possible. Last night was an initial take stock discussion. I do share the Deputy's view that the centre has held. One hears lots of different views in this Parliament, as is entirely appropriate but people cannot forget the fact that the European People's Party gained seats in the European election, and that it looks like it will be possible to put a centrist coalition together in the coming weeks as well.

I do not accept that President von der Leyen is blocking any review of the association agreement because this is a matter for member states. There are 27 member states. Ireland and Spain have signed a letter saying we want it reviewed. The Belgian Presidency has made some progress on this, which I welcome. However, I call on all European leaders to join us on this because I fundamentally believe that the association agreement needs to be reviewed because there are human rights clauses in it.

In response to Deputy Barry, there has to be a correlation between the outcome of the European elections and the President of the Commission, and that has been established. Indeed, the Deputy respectfully campaigned on that basis in the European elections when he asked people to vote for candidates who would definitely not vote for President von der Leyen. I heard the Deputy say that. That is his position and I respect that but the reality is the European People's Party chose at a congress President von der Leyen to be the lead candidate. Other political groupings chose other people to be the lead candidates and we had an election across the European Union. That has to count for something in ensuring there is not a democratic deficit or disconnect between the citizens of the Union and those who are appointed to roles.

With regard to President von der Leyen, people have made comments in our Government in the past about the early days of the Middle East situation. However, looking at President von der Leyen's actions in respect of the support for UNRWA when others were not supporting UNRWA - that is the humanitarian aid, for people watching in - and her calling for an immediate ceasefire and her belief in a two-state solution, sometimes she is wrongly positioned on this issue in terms of-----

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