Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I agree that just because we are a small country is not a reason not to do something. More and more over recent years in the European Union, many coalitions of small and medium-sized countries have come together to work on issues and that has helped move the dial at European level and sometimes at an international level. Recognition was one, as was the fact that we went from being one of only two countries to seek a review of the association agreement to getting to 17 and then 19 was another, along with the fact that we were in a minority view that there should be actions taken on foot of that to that now being in my opinion a majority view. Whether it is a qualified majority remains to be tested. What we have been doing here in this Oireachtas on behalf of the people of Ireland has had an impact at European level.

I want to be respectful to the process we must go through in government. People know and understand that. I have outlined to the House what the Government will do. We have the pre-legislative report of the Oireachtas committee and will be considering our next steps. We will decide on that shortly and I will update the House.

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