Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I support the call for a debate on the Competition Authority report published recently. I refer particularly to the cost of petrol and diesel. The cost has increased to €1.25 for a litre of diesel and €1.19 for a litre of petrol. The report compares the average around Europe, which is not unlike the Irish figure. In Slovenia it is €1.022 for a litre of unleaded petrol and €1 for diesel. There is a disparity in prices, although I appreciate tax is a factor. The price in Ireland is lower than in Northern Ireland at the moment. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the Competition Authority report and the cost of fuel vis-À-vis the fact that the dollar is so weak in comparison with the euro. We are being exploited and the cost is far too high in respect of the exchange rate, as is the price of $108 per barrel of oil.

Last week I referred to a debate in the Council of Europe and I would be delighted if the Leader could provide an opportunity to discuss the report issued, which will be coming before the Council of Europe on a date between 14 and 18 April. Three Members of the House will be present to argue the case against this report by a member of the Austrian parliament, who promotes the idea of abortion being widespread throughout Europe. An article in The Irish Times today by Genevieve Carbery with comments by Ruth Cullen does not reflect the fact that I attended the meeting in January in Strasbourg and in Paris last Tuesday and fully set out our position vis-À-vis the Constitution which has a full prohibition on abortion. It will continue to have that and I will be in touch with The Irish Times because this article is misleading and damaging as we come into the Lisbon treaty campaign.

The Council of Europe has no jurisdiction as far as proposals agreed at that level. My colleagues, Senator Cecelia Keaveney and Senator Joe O'Reilly, will make this case in Strasbourg in April. This is a report by an individual member of parliament from Austria. I proposed that the report be rejected by the steering committee for equality between women and men. That was rejected by 21 to three, with one member abstaining. I voted against the report. This debate is being entered into by the Council of Europe, not the EU, and the former has no jurisdiction as far as Ireland is concerned. I wish to allay the fears in respect of the Lisbon treaty. Abortion will have no involvement and voting in favour of the treaty will not affect our constitutional position which has been laid down consistently by Governments of all hues. It is the agreed position of the Irish people, which we will uphold.