Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I think a lot of the work around the multi-annual financial framework will fall to our Presidency. That is why we have taken a decision as an Irish Government to get our own priorities into the Commission in advance of that Presidency. Of course, when you take up the Presidency, you assume a role as an honest broker. I expect that to be a very busy period.

I am glad the Deputy brought up enlargement. I met yesterday with the Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova after the conclusive pro-European outcome to its parliamentary elections, following on from the similar pro-European result in its presidential election.

I also met with the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro and with representatives of a number of western Balkan states in Hillsborough Castle as part of the Berlin conference about two weeks ago. It is really important that we show people there is a path and if they have been knocking on the door for years, they can actually get in, particularly if they are meeting all the criteria. Enlargement will be a priority of the Irish Presidency. A number of countries, including Montenegro and Albania, could well make significant progress during that time. We are very supportive of advancing, as the Deputy knows, Ukrainian and indeed Moldovan accession, just to name a few countries. There probably is not a more pro-enlargement country in the European Union than Ireland.

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