asked the Taoiseach if he proposes to write to all 15 Members of the European Parliament from the Republic of Ireland to discuss with them Ireland's priorities for the EC Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In my statement next week in the House on the Strasbourg European Council, I propose to deal also with our forthcoming EC Presidency. Copies of this statement will, of course, be forwarded to our MEPs and I would of course, welcome any views they might wish to offer.

Can it be assumed that the Taoiseach does not have as of now any specific intention to formally invite the 15 MEPs to meet with him separately rather than simply sending them copies of his statement through the post?

I am not ruling it out. It is something that can be considered but in the first instance I will be sending them a copy of my statement to this House after the Strasbourg Summit. Whatever other meetings that might be considered useful or appropriate at any time will be considered.

Thank you a Cheann Comhairle for allowing me a second supplementary. Having made a declaration about an invitation to the three MEPs representing Northern Ireland, has the Taoiseach considered the possibility of a meeting with all the MEPs representing this island?

Naturally, since the Deputy put down a question I considered it and it is something that can be kept in mind.

Would the Taoiseach agree that invitations of this kind might be taken more seriously by those receiving them and might have a greater prospect of success if they were issued privately to the people in advance rather than by way of a press release to the public media?

That is a matter which has to be considered in relation to any invitation.

Did the Taoiseach consider it in regard to this invitation?

I consider all aspects of these matters.

May I ask the Taoiseach why he did not issue a private invitation rather than choosing to issue it here in this House in this fashion?

These are matters which I decide in accordance with my own judgment of any situation.

Would the Taoiseach agree that his judgment is open to question?

This cannot go on indefinitely.

I would not like to be lectured by the Deputy on the question of judgment. I do not think he should let the fact that he is sitting in that particular chair today go to his head.

The Taoiseach might not be sitting in that seat for too long if some of his colleagues have any say in the matter.

And well known friends, too.

But they are absent at the moment. Let the Taoiseach not feel too secure.

Let us hear Deputy De Rossa, who has possession.

I would welcome an invitation to meet the Taoiseach at any time.

The Deputy was not very forthcoming the last time I invited him.

It was a snare.

However, I did meet you. I wish the Taoiseach well during his forthcoming Presidency of the entire European Community from January until June next year. Would he agree that he should avoid taking steps that might be interpreted as giving a preference to Irish interests above the general European Community interests and that a meeting of Irish MEPs at this time might be seen as giving them preference?

I will be very careful of that aspect.