Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator O'Toole on the point he raised about the summit meeting between the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It is very ominous and damaging and serves to undermine the Community. Perhaps the meeting was to try to mend fences after the debacle to which the three countries were party regarding the war in Iraq. However, the feeling abroad is that the meeting was designed to set the foundations for a two-speed Europe, which could be very damaging for the Community in the longer term. It is not acceptable to have this type of arrangement on the eve of enlargement. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to give us some indication as to how this matter will be dealt with or if it is to be ignored?

I believe the three countries have had such meetings before. We should not read too much into them but such meetings of three important leaders in Europe are very damaging at a time when the European Union is to be enlarged. If they want to be part of the European Community, they should abide by its rules and not dictate who should be appointed to positions, etc. It is totally unacceptable. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.