I raise this question in support of the Government and of the efforts of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy O'Donnell, with regard to the Northern Ireland process. However, of the 14 meetings which the Minister for Foreign Affairs could have attended, two were trade related and were attended by Deputy Kitt, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and of the rest, the Minister attended only seven. Three other Ministers of State, Deputies Ó Cuív, O'Donnell and Cullen have attended meetings. I accept that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has a very important role vis a vis Northern Ireland but having regard to the importance of the European dimension, whether in respect of regionalisation or other matters, does the Taoiseach not agree that our European interests are not being properly served by this intermittent and changing representation at the General Affairs Council? We have all had experience of various European General Affairs Council meetings and we know that unless there is continuity of personnel our interventions will be made without the required authority.