During a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, I said: I welcome the Taoiseach. Last year, I did not reach a decision on the Lisbon treaty until I had weighed up all the arguments. Any of the matters to which I will refer at this meeting will reflect the changes that have occurred since last year. I almost feel like a bride at a wedding saying to her husband to be “Of course I love you darling, but do you mind if I keep the furniture in my own name?” It appears as if we are seeking special treatment...

I have two queries which relate to what has happened since last year’s referendum. The first of these relates to Ireland’s commissioner. If the referendum is lost, I understand that we will return to the position which obtained post the Nice treaty. In such circumstances, would it be possible for the EU to state that it is only going to have 26 commissioners instead of 27? I read a report which indicated that the high representative for foreign affairs could come from the 27th country.

Concern has arisen in respect of the use of the word “suggestion”, instead of that of “propose”, in the context of who might be the Commissioner. I do not know what is the difference between those two terms. However, there are those who state that we would no longer be in a position to propose who should serve as Commissioner, that all we could do would be to make a suggestion in this regard and that the President of the EU, advised by his or her colleagues, would make the final decision. Will the Taoiseach put my mind, and those of the people who have expressed concerns in this regard, to rest?

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