Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

We want to keep these measures on the table. Some other member states do also. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy wants to keep them on the table too. They require more than our support, however. The EU–Israel association agreement is an agreement between the EU and Israel and I do not believe there is any possibility for groups of member states to start veering out of it. It would have to be done at EU level. This is exactly what the Taoiseach would have said in the room at the European Council, and it is exactly what we have been saying. I am sure the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will say it tomorrow. It has been said all along. In fact, I said myself at the General Affairs Council in preparation for the European Council that we must keep these measures on the table. This is Ireland's position.

Obviously, when it comes to the EU-Israel association agreement, you need a qualified majority of member states. A Commission proposal is needed first, which we finally achieved. A qualified majority of member states is needed thereafter. We will continue to work on that but the position of Ireland could not be clearer.

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