Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Again, Sinn Féin is trying to create a fog around the issue of the Commissioner. The figure of five years has been introduced out of the blue. This happened yesterday in the other House and it has happened again this evening. The scriptwriters and researchers are busy trying to put a spin on things and distort the reality. We are not claiming anything more or less than the following, which is stated in the conclusions of the European Council: "Provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, a decision would be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, to the effect that the Commission shall continue to include one national of each Member State". That was unanimously decided in December 2008 and reaffirmed on 19 June of this year. It is unambiguous.