Press briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Taoiseach, Prime Miniser, Police Inquiry, Climate Change, World Bank and EU
Taoiseach
Asked if the Prime Minister’s address to Parliament ahead of the Taoiseach was simply a formal introduction, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) replied that the speech would cover the Prime Minister’s personal view of Bertie Ahern and the contribution that he had made to both the peace process and also to wider relations between Britain and Ireland.
Asked what the focus of the bilateral talks would be, Northern Ireland or the EU, the PMOS replied that obviously there would be a progress report on Northern Ireland, but in terms of substance, the EU and their approach to the EU treaty would also be part of discussions.
Asked how it was decided that something like this warranted a Parliamentary address, the PMOS replied that it was discussions between the Prime Minister and the Speaker that decided it, and anyone who had seen recent events in Belfast would understand why we believed that we had reached an historic point. Bertie Ahern was central to that, and the Prime Minister will note in his speech that the Taoiseach has shown great personal commitment right from the Good Friday Agreement on. Not just in ensuring the Peace Process, but in reaching out to Unionism and Loyalism, and this was a fitting way to mark that contribution.
Asked who last addressed Parliament, the PMOS replied that it was Kofi Annan.
Prime Miniser
Asked for a comment on the story in the Mirror today that the Prime Minister was not expected to draw up a resignation honours list, the PMOS replied that all of this was premature.
Police Inquiry
Asked if we expected to hear anything from the Crown Prosecution Service, the PMOS replied that this was entirely a matter for the CPS.
Climate Change
Asked if we recognised anything in today’s Guardian story on a 5-point climate change plan, the PMOS replied that it was no secret that the EU had agreed its targets, and its goal. Therefore what we were looking for was consensus on the way forward internationally. As he said yesterday, the EU on its own could not deliver on climate change. The whole point was that post Kyoto we were looking for a consensus that not only involved the United States, but also India and China. This was the only guaranteed way in which we could make the necessary progress.
Asked if we were looking at non-binding targets for India and China, the PMOS replied that the important thing was not to pre-empt the outcome of the G8, but to work towards our own genuine consensus.
Asked if the Prime Minister was hoping to persuade President Bush of anything on climate change later this week, the PMOS replied that climate change would be an important part of discussions, and that was always going to be the case. The EU Summit agreement had given new impetus to the European position, but clearly the other major players would be represented at the G8 at June, and the US was one of those, along with India & China and the other developing countries.
Asked if the Prime Minister thought that a federal US position was achievable or would state by state be acceptable, the PMOS replied that he would not give a running commentary on American politics. But it was important that any consensus should include the US as a whole.
World Bank
Asked if the Prime Minister had any view on Paul Wolfovitz’s position, the PMOS replied that this was entirely a matter for the World Bank.
Asked if Britain had a view on the whether the position should always be held by an American, the PMOS replied that again it was important to leave this to the World Bank.
EU
Asked if the Prime Minister’s negotiations at the EU Summit would be binding on future Governments, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister would negotiate on behalf of this country and on behalf of the Government.
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