Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I am not speaking on the issue but on the way the Government does business, which is by postponing and avoiding responsibility. That is not the way to run Government.

The European Union will today decide — I gather the decision will be positive — whether to open negotiations with Turkey to join the EU. It is an extremely significant day. One of the ideas that has always floated is that the Seanad ought to be the House where European issues are debated. If negotiations with Turkey are to open, it would be useful for the House to have a sensible, intelligent debate on the issue in the new year. It is a major new step for the EU, and one of which I am in favour, provided I am satisfied Turkey is a modern, liberal democracy, operating to the same standard of human rights as other member states. I have no interest in the religious persuasion of the EU member states. However, this move has serious implications. In the spirit of having the Seanad as the House in which European affairs are debated, I ask that we debate this matter in the new year.