Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has had discussions with his colleagues in the EU regarding the matter of key appointments to the EU institutions including the EU Commission with a view to ensuring that persons of the highest possible calibre and political experience are appointed and that all appointees are fully aware of their duties and responsibilities to all member states and not just those from which they were nominated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41883/09]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the negotiations on the appointment of a High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41976/09]

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the negotiations to fill the post of President of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41969/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has taken a position on the appointment to the new position of EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41922/09]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the negotiations for Ireland to secure a Commissionership in an area of national importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41962/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the priorities of the next newly appointed EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy from Ireland's point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41923/09]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had indications whether it may be possible to secure the position of EU Ambassador to the United States for an Irish national following John Bruton's successful tenure in that position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41921/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he will ensure that the most competent and capable persons are appointed to all the new EU positions post Lisbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42338/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 57, 59, 70, 72, 93, 107 and 220 together.

The Lisbon treaty provides for the creation of two major new posts, namely, the President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy. These posts will bring greater coherence and continuity to the work of the EU, particularly in its external dimensions. As regards the situation concerning the post of President of the European Council and the appointment of both the President of the European Council and the High Representative, I refer Deputies to my earlier answer to the third Priority Question, which dealt with that subject at some length.

The new High Representative will be tasked with conducting the Union's common foreign and security policy. An important innovation is that the High Representative will also be vice-president of the Commission with responsibility for external relations. The primary role of the High Representative will be to conduct the common foreign and security policy and to ensure consistency and coherence across all dimensions of the Union's external action. The High Representative will carry out that policy as mandated by the Council. It will be an important and demanding post, which will have the support of the European external action service, a significant innovation under the Lisbon treaty.

As the Taoiseach announced yesterday, the Government has nominated Máire Geoghegan-Quinn as the next Irish Commissioner. President Barroso has stated that final decisions on the portfolios of the new Commissioners must await the appointment of the High Representative who will also be a vice president of the Commission. Our objective is that the Irish nominee should secure a good portfolio. The procedure is that the Council will adopt a list of Commission nominees by common accord with the Commission President. This list will be subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament and, on the basis of this consent, the new Commission will then be appointed by the European Council. The timetable for this may now stretch into January 2010. The independence of the Commission and of its members is a treaty-based obligation which I am sure President Barroso will be underlining.

No decision has been made on who will replace John Bruton as European Union Ambassador to the United States. That decision will be a matter for the High Representative. I am sure that Irish nationals could be among those considered for this post in light of John Bruton's success, as well as of the understanding, based on long and close ties, the Irish have of the United States.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate Ms Geoghegan-Quinn on her appointment as the new Commissioner. Can the Minister confirm whether Ireland has someone in mind to support for the position of High Representative?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We do not have a nominee for that post.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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It is probably will be someone with Fianna Fáil connections.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are many who would be more than willing.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Card-carrying members.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Irish language speakers.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Now that a Commissioner has been nominated, can Members expect that the Commissioner will come before this House to address them on the many new matters that relate both to this House and the European Union arising from the Lisbon treaty? Is this a role for the Minister for Foreign Affairs?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Could the Deputy repeat that?

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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My point was that as Ireland has nominated a Commissioner and given the considerable new relationships that will exist between the Commission and this House arising from the Lisbon treaty, would it be appropriate for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to ensure that our new Commissioner will be given an invitation from the House to come before it to discuss such matters?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Bheadh sé oiriúnach don Aire é sin a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an Coimisinéir nua sásta teacht ar ais chuig an Oireachtas chun labhairt leis na Teachtaí Dála agus Seanadóirí go léir le chéíle. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Michael D. Higgins, tá Gaeilge líofa aici. Is iontach an scéal é go mbeidh Coimisinéir againn a mbeidh sásta an teanga náisiúnta a úsáid. Níl aon amhras orm ach go mbeidh sí rí-shásta teacht os ár gcomhair.