Quotes
In fact the truth of it was - I was finance minister then - it was hard enough for us to explain it to each other.
In fact on the first vote in Ireland, and perhaps what the caller was referring to, we had a lot of outside money - outside of Ireland - that was put into Ireland on the 'no' campaign from anonymous people and that certainly wasn't a good position either.
If Edgaras comes under what I've stated 1st May he can come here without a visa, with restriction, his qualifications I think not only within Europe but we have now people working here from Singapore, from Malaysia and their qualifications are accepted.
I've said at the outset, different countries have their own constitutional provision. Some countries have no constitution so people have to make their own decision, otherwise that would be an interference.
I've been deeply involved with those negotiations, not only during the Irish presidency but of last year as well, very much following what's happening.
I'm not raising an issue about the date by just saying that decision has to be made at the end of the year but I don't see any major obstacles to their membership, over the remainder of this decade certainly.
I'm a bit disappointed that so many people have closed up on their barriers, that's why we have been very anxious to keep our position.
I think within a community the standards should in all professions, as I say in many of them there's not an issue, but I know in teaching and particularly in language teaching there are different views and different standards.
I think what we're doing in overseas development aid, which he acknowledges, many European countries, and Ireland included, are trying to up our contribution to help in the development into the free market, that is a good thing.
I think what we have to do is to try to say listen we have to stop those things that are wrong, we have to look at those things that are positive.
I think this is a good time because I think the constitution is something that people will have an interest - you're understood - these are the charter's fundamental rights. It deals with competences; it is definitely simplifying procedures.
I think they'll do very well in the Union and they're already in a financially healthy position.
I think there are times that a debate and a referendum are good, there are other times it's just too complex.
I think the way forward is that we can look at the totality of the outstanding issues, whoever's agenda they are, and together say we're going to implement the entire agenda together and everybody moves on together.
I think the Turkey situation is going to generate far more debate and far more controversy for many, many reasons. Its size.
I think the pooling of sovereignty, the opening up of markets, the opening up of views is actually an enormously positive thing.
I think the other part of the question - if somebody rejects it, do you put it back again? Well Ireland was in that position after Nice.
I think the main benefits of a constitution for people is just the workability of how the Union operates.
I think the Irish have been over history tended to be very pro-Israel. I think in recent years they have not been very happy with what they've seen - what the Palestinian authority has been subjected to.
I think the interesting point on qualifications and standardisation of qualifications and recognition of qualifications - I know in the area of medicine and nurses and pharmaceutical, physiotherapy - tending to be in the medical area - there's been a lot of debate about this.