- Hr. formand, rådsformanden vil givet finde det overraskende, at jeg hilser Den Irske Republiks formandskab velkommen her i dag. Dog er jeg sikker på, at han vil forstå, hvad der ligger bag, fordi han vil få så travlt det næste halve år, at vi ikke skal tolerere hans tilstedeværelse ved møderne i Nordirland.
Mr President, the President-in-Office of the Council may find it strange that I should be welcoming the Irish Republic's presidency today, but I know that he will understand my intention because he is going to be so busy over the next six months that we will not have to tolerate his presence at meetings in Northern Ireland.