Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste is welcome to the House and I thank him for coming here. What progress has been made on assessing the recognition of the National Transitional Council in Libya. I raised this question with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the Adjournment and subsequently wrote a letter to the Tánaiste's office on 29 November. I am aware, and I do not know if the two are related, that the ambassador, Mr. Patrick Hennessy, was in Libya on 12 December assessing the situation and he was to make a report. There is a massive opportunity for trade with Libya, as Senator Higgins mentioned. Enterprise Ireland would say it cannot help Irish businesses because we do not recognise the council, yet those in many businesses have contacted me to point out that they need such assistance. The British Ambassador, the Right Honourable Mr. Dominic Acquith, held a trade reception in Libya with the Minister on Friday 20 Jauary 2012 and the United Arab Emirates is in a race to get into Libya. We do not join the party and we do not go into the room when it is clean, rather we help to clean up the mess. I would like an answer to my question on that matter.