I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 109 together.
Ireland has made a positive and constructive contribution to the debate on Political Union right from the earliest discussions exactly a year ago. During our Presidency we played a central role in the process which led to the decision at the Dublin meeting of the European Council in June to convene an Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union. We helped to lay down the framework within which the work of the Intergovernmental Conference would be carried out and it was in Dublin that the four general headings under which specific issues would be addressed were adopted. These are (i) the scope of Political Union, (ii) democratic legitimacy, (iii) efficiency and effectiveness of the Community and its Institutions and, (iv) unity and coherence of the Community's international action.
Ireland participated fully and actively at official and ministerial level in the preparatory phase of the Intergovernmental Conference during the Italian Presidency in the latter half of last year. This work culminated in the adoption of a full and detailed report drawn up by Foreign Ministers and adopted at the Rome European Council in December on the basis of which the broad guidelines for the work of the Intergovernmental Conference were laid down.