Vol. 625 No. 4
1 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the progress made to date by the quality customer service working group within his Department established under the strategic management initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28196/06]
2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the quality customer service working group in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32150/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
The quality customer service working group is one of four groups which, in recent years, have been actively developing and promoting the quality customer service, QCS, initiative in the public service. The other groups include the QCS officers' network, a research group and a group dealing with equality and diversity issues. These groups are active, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the issues which are current at the time.
The QCS officers' network has been working intensively on the development and promotion of the customer charter initiative, including its extension to bodies under the aegis of Departments and offices. This is an important initiative whereby Departments and offices publicly commit to service standards and report on progress made. The QCS officers' network met four times so far this year and its next meeting is scheduled for the end of November.
Similarly, the QCS research group has been very active in recent months, including on the development of a major survey of customer satisfaction levels and attitudes towards Civil Service Departments. The group has also been assisting with the development of the specification for a major review of the customer charter process by independent experts. The group has met four times this year to date and its next meeting is scheduled for the end of October.
Against the background of intensive activity by other QCS groups, it has not been necessary for some time for the QCS working group to meet and its last full meeting was in October 2004. In the meantime, QCS issues are reviewed at the regular meetings of the implementation group of secretaries general, of which the QCS working group is a sub-group.
All QCS groups are serviced by the same unit in my Department, which also provides the secretariat for the implementation group of secretaries general, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. It oversees the full change and modernisation programme for the Civil Service and public service. The QCS working group remains available to look at issues that may require specific review.
Quality customer service is at the core of the modernisation programme for the Civil Service. Improvements in the level of customer service ultimately depend on the commitment of management and staff in each Department, office and agency. I have no doubt that awareness of the importance of better customer service is increasing right across the public service. For example, earlier this year I presented 20 awards to projects which made a significant contribution to public service excellence. These projects were selected from over 150 applications, most of which were making a real improvement to the services being delivered on the ground in the areas of health, education and local government.
With regard to the principles of quality consumer service which have been mentioned, the undertaking is to provide clean, accessible public offices that ensure privacy, comply with occupational and safety standards and, as part of this, facilitate access for people with disabilities and others with specific needs. Has the implementation group of secretaries general performed an audit of how far we are along the road towards 100% accessibility to public buildings for disabled persons?
No more than any other public representative, I fail to understand how engineering concepts, in many cases, at the entrances and exits to public buildings leave footpaths that are a foot high in some cases. It is impossible for people to go along their way. The same applies throughout every town and village in the country. These are public access points. Has a direction been given in that regard or has an audit been carried out? How far are we from 100% accessibility?
The same terms put an onus on Departments and agencies to provide choice, where feasible, for persons to have service delivery, including payment methods, made available with multiple choice where that is so. Why, for example, can a person wishing to acquire information under the Freedom of Information Act not pay for it with a credit card or Laser card? There is e-government, a multiple choice for paying ESB and telephone bills etc., and the money is sometimes gone before the person knows it. Sometimes a service is cut off before a person finds out the payment was not made.
With regard to public service and access, why do we not have an option for multiple choice, as is contained in the terms of reference? For example, those people looking for information under the Freedom of Information Act cannot pay by credit card or Laser card.
Niall Crowley of the Equality Authority chaired the equality and diversity sub-group in the past. That sub-group assisted in the preparation of the support pack for equality and diversity aspects of all the QCS, which was issued to all Departments and offices. That sub-group also advised on the working and commission of the research group on equality and diversity issues. That was circulated to Departments and offices. Equality issues are also included by Departments and offices in the production of their customer charters and customer action plans. That is the broad issue of equality.
On the issue of accessibility, a direction was given some years ago to all Departments and agencies to have wheelchair accessibility. I do not have a figure covering Departments and agencies, but all the major Departments at that time, about six or seven years ago, undertook a fair amount of construction work, with the installation of wheelchair lifts, and other work to deal with the issue. I do not know if it is the case in every single agency but it certainly is in all the main Departments. The work includes toilets and other areas such as side doors, where a number of difficulties arose because some entrances were impossible to ramp.
Although not applying to every Department, this year the sectoral plans, published in July following consultation with the National Disability Authority, set out what was to happen in the wider public service, such as transport. To the best of my knowledge, there was no question on disability in the survey. If that was the case, I will raise it in time to obtain a figure in the next survey, which should be easy to do.
The Deputy's second question was on what the QCS groups were endeavouring to do. They are endeavouring to make use of the benefits of technology across the Departments to make it easier for people to access information. The big issue surrounds night-time availability, in addition to the service provided during the day, such as exists for motor taxation, which is a hugely popular service with the public. Farmers' schemes also exist, which the agricultural community uses a lot. An e-payment system will come in from 1 January 2007 so that almost all payments will be made using technology. All the time the service is building up its capacity to use technology.
Most of these developments are taking place under the encouragement of QCS groups in Departments. The service is constantly extending the use of technology so that people can fill in forms electronically. Some areas have not been able to make such good progress but for the most part, across the service, technology is being used to make services more accessible and to offer a 24-hour service so that people can access them any time of the night or at weekends.
Conas is féidir leis an QCS freastal ar dhaoine a dhéanann a ngnó trí Ghaeilge? De réir mar a thuigim, ní bheidh ach 3% den Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, mar shampla, in ann gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. An bhfuil sé mar chuid den seirbhís go mbeidh céatadán áirithe de na daoine i ngach Roinn — Roinn an Taoisigh, mar shampla — in ann gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge?
The intention is that, for people who wish to do business through Irish, every Department and agency have staff capable and competent to deal with them over the telephone or by e-mail.
Is the Taoiseach sure that is the case?
Every Department has people who can deal with telephone calls, e-mails and personal visits through Irish, which is the intention of QCS groups. It is difficult for every section to have people competent in Irish, especially specialist sections, although they are trying to achieve that, but in Departments as a whole there is adequate competence. The easiest aspect of the service, namely answering e-mails or letters, can always be delivered through Irish but it is not always easy to have someone at a desk or manning a telephone line.
Is it part of recruitment policy?
It is still part of general recruitment to the Civil Service that people be competent in all aspects of Irish. They do not have problems in Departments as a whole, but they may do so in individual sections. However, they are trying to make progress as part of the customer charter.
Does the Government intend to extend this initiative, which the Taoiseach thinks has produced results in the Civil Service, into other areas of the public service? The Taoiseach's remarks about staff in the health service caused much grief to many members of staff although they may have misunderstood or misinterpreted him. Many staff, such as nurses, were upset by remarks that might be interpreted as meaning that they do not work hard or long enough. That is not the case for nurses, as I am sure the Taoiseach will agree. Does he think that some formal system such as the QCS ought to be tried, for example, in the health services?
I said last week at the IBEC HR conference that there is a need to consider introducing more flexibility in how we deal with customers. I gave three examples, local authorities, the education service and the health service. I said this means more flexible hours, more flexible working weeks and more flexible systems, and I stand over that. I was not talking about the health sector because it applies equally to all parts of the public sector. The three examples I mentioned in my contribution and when answering questions were local government, education and the central Civil Service. These improvements are being made. Many public offices now stay open for longer hours, through lunchtime and earlier and later in the day. Customers are being facilitated in this way. This is a major change from the way the service operated only a few years ago.
We must make progress in that regard. As I said last week, at a time when the levels of investment in terms of capital expenditure and equipment, are historically high, we need to ensure that there is flexibility in working patterns, and there is nothing new in this. The issue arose in the social partnership and the relevant section in the partnership spells out that we have to facilitate the work of organisations to provide improved customer service delivery. There are needs in certain areas for changes in HRM practices to provide services outside the work that is regarded as traditional.
I did not mention any category of health staff, but nurses already work 24 hours a day so they would be excluded from this change. There are sections in the health services which I did not mention that are open for only six or seven hours a day and have very costly equipment. I repeat the point that they should be open longer.
Much of what the customer service group put forward is already happening in local authorities, for example, in the motor taxation division, in the Revenue Commissioners and the agricultural payment schemes. They are all large sections. I forget the percentage but the on-line motor taxation registration is a high proportion of the overall figure. The agricultural payments scheme has gone from a very low proportion of on-line business to a high one.
The Revenue Commissioners have been doing this for several years and will extend it to the PAYE sector, which is a large sector. From January the e-payments system for the public service will go to a new level. While it has promoted e-payments for the past few years, it will go almost totally on-line. The service is rolling out the system and constantly uses technology to try to improve the services. The benefit is that it is possible for people to use the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although the staff are not there all that time. People are doing their transactions at home in the evenings and at weekends, which the service can then pick up. The public has taken to this to an even greater extent than was envisaged five years ago.
3 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the foreign visits he plans to undertake during the remainder of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28197/06]
4 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach when he will next meet with the President of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28198/06]
5 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent contacts with other European Union Heads of Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28202/06]
6 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he has received an agenda for the October 2006 meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28207/06]
7 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach his plans for official trips abroad up to the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28241/06]
8 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach his priorities for the next EU summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28247/06]
9 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his participation in the recent EU-ASEM summit in Finland. [28890/06]
10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he has received an agenda for the forthcoming EU summit in Brussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28891/06]
11 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the official visits abroad he plans to undertake during the current Dáil session. [29216/06]
12 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the Asia-Europe summit in Helsinki. [29219/06]
13 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on bilateral meetings he attended on the margins of the Asia-Europe summit in Helsinki. [29220/06]
14 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. [29224/06]
15 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent ASEM summit in Helsinki; if human rights issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30642/06]
16 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach when he expects to next meet the President of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30643/06]
17 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the foreign visits he intends to make in the remainder of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30644/06]
18 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the foreign visits he has planned for 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30645/06]
19 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he has received a draft agenda for the October 2006 EU summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/06]
20 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the King and Queen of Norway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/06]
21 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the role that he envisages for the National Forum on Europe up to June 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30671/06]
22 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the official visits abroad he has scheduled up to May 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31752/06]
23 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach his priorities for the next EU summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31753/06]
24 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting on 9 October 2006 with the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel. [32541/06]
25 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the German Chancellor in Berlin on 4 October 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32908/06]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 25, inclusive, together.
I make contact on an ongoing basis at European Council and other summit meetings with EU Heads of State or Government. On 30 June, I travelled to Helsinki where I met with the Finnish Prime Minister, Mr. Vanhanen, and discussed the agenda for the Finnish EU Presidency. I travelled to Berlin on 9 October and had a successful meeting with the German Chancellor, Ms Merkel. The meeting came at an important time, in advance of Germany assuming the EU Presidency on 1 January 2007. At the meeting, the Chancellor and I had thorough discussions on EU developments, most notably Germany's preparations for its EU Presidency term, the European constitution and EU enlargement.
I will address the College of EU Commissioners in Brussels on 8 November and meet with the EU Commission President, Mr. José Manuel Durão Barroso. I will also address the European Parliament in Brussels on 29 November. In addition, I will attend the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Lahti, Finland on Friday, 20 October, and the regular European Council on 14 and 15 December in my role as Head of Government.
As well as attending the regular European Council meetings scheduled in March and June, I also intend to travel to some Gulf States in early January to promote Irish trade interests in the region and to visit Washington for St. Patrick's Day. I have not yet received a formal agenda for the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Lahti. However, the Finnish EU Presidency has indicated that the one-day summit will discuss innovation policy in the EU and its external relations with regard to energy policy. There will also be a working dinner with Russian President, Mr. Putin. I, along with others, will be emphasising the importance to the EU of secure and reliable energy supply.
On 10 September, I travelled to Helsinki for ASEM, the Asia-Europe Summit, hosted by the Finnish EU Presidency. ASEM plays an important role in fostering greater contact and understanding between Asia and Europe. There is practical value in bringing together Asian and European leaders to meet and exchange views on issues of concern to both regions. Key themes of the summit were strengthening multilateralism, addressing security threats and dialogue among cultures and civilisations. While human rights issues were not formally on the wide-ranging agenda for the summit, I raised concerns about the human rights situation in Burma at the discussion on regional and international issues at the working dinner on the first evening of the summit.
I had a short bilateral meeting with the Polish Prime Minister during the course of the summit. We discussed several issues, particularly the large number of Poles resident and working in Ireland. I also met the Malaysian Prime Minister on the margins of the summit.
On 18 September, I had the pleasure of welcoming Their Majesties, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, and their delegation to Government Buildings during their first official visit to Ireland. We discussed the good bilateral and trade relations that exist between our two countries. Matters of common interest including our respective commitment to the United Nations and its peacekeeping efforts, and energy security were also discussed.
The National Forum on Europe is an independent body. As I have no function in its day-to-day operations, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on its planned work programme for the coming year. The forum is proactive in disseminating such information including via its website. I am confident that it will continue its effective work in stimulating and facilitating debate on matters of importance on the European agenda.
Will the Taoiseach confirm that the European Commission was contacted by the Government in respect of the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair? If so, what question did the Government ask and has there been any response?
Where are we at with the European constitution? The period of reflection is over and during the forthcoming elections in France, the French will make their decision. Has any progress been made under the Finnish EU Presidency in this regard?
There have been some comments about a change to the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland. Although this may be discussed in tomorrow's statements on Northern Ireland, does the Taoiseach have a view on the suggestion? Does he foresee complications in that Scotland and Wales may also require a reduction in their corporation tax rates?
What is the Government's view on the difficulties surrounding the Turkish EU accession talks? Is it the Taoiseach's view that the Turkish refusal to allow Greek Cypriots to use its ports is a stumbling block and that, according to President Barroso, it may delay any decision on Turkish accession for 15 to 20 years?
All groups in Northern Ireland have pressed for a change in the corporation tax rate; it is one of the few areas where there is total agreement among all sides, including unions, industry, business and political parties. They have put forward their case in the last nine months to the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government has also made the case for this change, with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance putting forward their views to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on various occasions.
No decision has been made on this, however, and it is difficult to see how the Chancellor could introduce separate rules for Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, a coherent case has been made as to how it could happen.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is unlikely to agree to such a change.
It is a difficult issue for him to deal with. There is strong support for this measure in the North and it has led to an interesting debate about the island economy, the courage of taking that initial step and so on. We have no difficulty with it but is a difficult matter for the British authorities to decide how to handle it and how to deal separately with Northern Ireland. There is a prolonged effort to secure consideration of it.
It has been left to the German Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel, to deal with the EU constitution, according to the agreement made last June. She was part of the discussions I attended last week as a consequence of our involvement in the final stages of the discussions on the constitution. She is taking a broad view of where it stands from everyone's perspective, taking into account the approaching Dutch election and the French election that will take place next summer.
Although the German Government is consulting widely and would like to make some movement, the difficulty is that there is a tight timeframe from the time the French election is over until the meeting of the European Council in mid-June 2007. It is in the same ballpark as Ireland in terms of its view of the constitution, that is, it should remain as is and that if there are amendments, they should not be broad based. This is not the view of everyone. Nevertheless, some 15 or 16 countries have now ratified the constitution and the Finns will do so before Christmas.
On the Turkish position, the UN initiative took place during the Irish Presidency, at which time I had extensive discussions with President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus. The Ankara Protocol is the difficulty. The Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdullah Gul, are not prepared to change their position and this creates a difficult situation both for the Finnish initiative and in terms of what the Germans would like to do later. There is a stalemate and I have talked to the Cypriot President about the issue because Chancellor Merkel asked me to do so. He is not for moving at present but I am due to talk to him again on Friday.
Cyprus believes it has been badly treated by the Turkish Government. At the end of the discussions on the Ankara Protocol, when all parties believed there was agreement, relations were soured when the Turkish Prime Minister issued his position on it. I said in this House at the time that this was not wise. It is a major dilemma, not necessarily for us but certainly for some of our European colleagues. It is taxing many minds and I cannot see progress as long as the present position obtains. Progress on the negotiations is already advancing at a snail's pace and it will become impossible if there is not some movement on this issue. Chancellor Merkel went to Turkey in recent weeks. Representatives of a host of other countries have gone there too. It is currently a major issue for the EU.
It is early days yet regarding the EU Commission. Although there has been contact, I do not believe that it has issued anything. However, regardless of whether the Irish Competition Authority gets involved, it is becoming clearer that it is a competition issue for the EU. I hope to be able to raise the matter personally because I have been afforded a meeting with the full Commission in a few weeks at which I will have the opportunity to put our side of the case. As the Deputy is aware, the issue relates to four Commissioners.
First, I note that at the EU summit there is to be a dinner discussion with President Putin about EU relations with Russia. Does the Taoiseach intend to raise freedom of speech and human rights in Russia following the murder of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya? She is the 20th journalist critical of the regime — in her case regarding events in Chechnya — to have been murdered in Russia. Despite those 20 murders, it is not believed that much is being done to bring the perpetrators to justice. Even more seriously, in some quarters it is believed that government elements might be implicated. Does the Taoiseach intend raising that matter?
Second, what is the Government's position on access to the Irish labour market for Romanian and Bulgarian workers? Does he agree, since the larger member states are not making their labour markets accessible to Romanian and Bulgarian workers, and given the scale of immigration that this country has experienced, particularly in the last two years, that it would place an intolerable short-term burden on infrastructure? I refer to places in education, housing, and so on. Does he agree that, as matters stand, we ought not to give Romania and Bulgaria access to our labour market after accession? Has the Government reached a decision in that regard?
There will be some pressure on the Russian authorities regarding recent events. There has been a series of such incidents, and not only regarding journalists. Several high-powered members of the banking and business fraternity, among others, have been assassinated recently. The Presidency will be making a formal statement with unanimous support. I believe that it has already made two such statements. The incoming Presidency under the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who met President Putin a few days ago, has also made that clear.
It will be quite an issue, and there is growing concern at the number of human and civil rights issues cropping up. I have no information regarding whether they are in any way associated with the authorities and I do not believe that such an association exists. However, their level and extent have led to continuing concern.
As I said in the House some weeks ago, every member state must now decide its position on Romania and Bulgaria. We committed to consulting the social partners and are in the process of doing that. We took a lead position during our EU Presidency in 2004 on the basis that others would follow in the short term, but that has not happened. If anything, there has been little movement other than in a few countries. Some countries, including Ireland, Britain, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Portugal and Greece, have opened their labour markets, but I advocated that all the member states should open their labour markets to the ten new countries.
We have not made a formal decision. However, at the current time it would create too many difficulties for us if we opened up to Romania and Bulgaria. Others must open first. We already have a permit system whereby people in strategic industries can work here. There are difficulties anyway. While we can control the labour market in terms of coming here to work, from 1 January 2007 we will not be able to control the number of people moving here. That will bring its own management problems. My view is that at this stage that is probably as much as we can manage.
I think I heard the Taoiseach correctly when he said that when he met the Chinese Vice-Premier, human rights were not specifically on the agenda. Coincidentally, at the time of his visit Amnesty International issued a report. Is it not strange therefore that at such a time human rights would not have been on the agenda, particularly the repression of Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong and various other people in China? Is there some reason we are not as strong on human rights as we should be with the Chinese Government?
In the informal EU Council talks involving a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister, Mr. Putin, the Taoiseach mentioned that it was very important to have a secure energy supply. What does this mean? Given we are so dependent on gas coming from Russia, does this mean he is looking to the day when we will not have to depend on it? Perhaps the Minister with responsibility for energy can have a word in the Taoiseach's ear on that as he is beside him. The current target of 20% of our energy from renewables by 2020 is certainly a long way from energy security.
I had intended asking the Taoiseach about the unfortunate Russian journalist who was killed, but Deputy Rabbitte has already done so. I will move on to the Taoiseach's planned visits for 2007. He may know about the Lancet figures of over 600,000 people who have died in Iraq as a result of the decision to invade that country. Does he have any plans to visit Iraq to see and assess the effects of Government policy vis-à-vis, for example, the use of Shannon to facilitate the invasion and whether——
That does not arise on this question.
It may do so if planned trips are discussed, which are the issue in one of the questions.
Will the next EU summit consider the agreement that has been entered into by the European Union with US authorities with regard to the requirements for passengers flying to the United States from Europe? Will the Taoiseach note that the European Parliament has strongly opposed the type of changes that have been introduced? These changes are a severe intrusion on the right to privacy in a raft of areas——
The Deputy should ask his question, we are running out of time.
——that affect each individual. This information will be provided to the US Department of Homeland Security. Will the Taoiseach ensure this matter is raised at the EU summit and will he press to have renegotiation of this agreement?
I ask the Deputy to confine himself to a question and, if possible, to confine himself to a question that is in order in these 22 questions.
I have just asked a question.
We are at the end of Question Time and the Chair has facilitated the Deputy by allowing him to speak.
I do not understand. I have asked a question. Will the Taoiseach seek a renegotiation? I do not know how questions are——
That does not arise out of these questions.
It does in terms of the EU summit and further meetings that are planned. I am asking if that matter will be addressed.
Will the Taoiseach advise if he has plans to visit the people of Palestine? Is that under consideration by the Taoiseach? If it is not currently under consideration, would he be prepared to consider it, given that a visit by an EU leader would be important to the beleaguered people of the Palestinian state?
We always raise human rights issues in our discussions with the Chinese at all levels. At the same time we acknowledge the efforts and the progress they are making on the rule of law. We continually raise these issues. We have had good success over the years in making representations regarding Falun Gong. I have raised the issue with the Chinese Premier, the President and others. We always raise such matters.
I have no plans to visit Iraq. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is engaged in all the international groups in regard to it. The violence in Iraq is deeply disturbing and there is no sign at present of it being brought under control. The Government has no means of assessing the various casualty figures put forward by different sources but what is clear is that the violence and sectarian killings affecting people in Iraq are at an appallingly high level.
Discussions are taking place at the Transport Council, not in the European Council, on EU transport and flight agreements. Perhaps I will ask the Minister for Transport to look at the issues raised by Deputy Ó Caoláin on the circumstances of Irish people.
We have had associations dating back 30 years with the Palestinian people. I have met them many times. I have been there on previous occasions in my capacity as Taoiseach. I met former President Arafat and many Palestinian deputations both here and at European meetings. During the Irish Presidency, the Palestinian foreign minister and other delegations travelled here. While I am not due to go there, we will continue to assist them in whatever way.
I strongly believe there is an opportunity for the European Union to play a bigger part in trying to help to find a resolution. There is a window of opportunity that perhaps was not there before for Europe. I will play any part I can. Palestine is not on the agenda for discussion this week but I am sure it will come up again. If it does come up I will lend weight to the argument for Europe to play a more constructive part in trying to help the beleaguered people in Palestine.
What about energy and security?
We have published our Green Paper and we will go along with that. The broader issue under discussion and one of the reasons President Putin is going is the difficulties that occurred after last Christmas in regard to supply. The aim is to try to create a better understanding with Europe. Chancellor Merkel has rightly put as the big initiative for her Presidency to try to get a European agreement on energy so Europe would not be isolated or divided on energy supply either from Russia or the other countries in the region. As most of Europe is taking in the order of 80% of its supply from the region, it must get agreements and understandings on supply and security of supply and negotiate on a rounder basis, as it is a European issue. From that point of view, it will be an interesting discussion with President Putin on Friday.
