What's your perception of where our influence stands in Brussels today and how it's developed over time? Are we in a good place? Is Ireland central to some of the decision making and policy making?

I think no country is perfect in the way that it approaches negotiations.

You know, I've referred to the Persian rug.

Everything is imperfect.

But we're far more influential and effective than some of the commentaries would suggest, some of the domestic commentaries would suggest.

At the same time, we're not 100% as effective as we could be.

So the first thing to say is Ireland has influence.

But at the European Union level, What do you think could be done to manage that and the potential risks of these new technologies like AI, but at the same time make sure we reap the benefits, particularly going back to the point about competitiveness and making sure that Europe and, I guess, each economy within it, including Ireland, can succeed internationally relative to the challenges we face? I think, Neil, that this is

Does this vindicate this stance, do you think?

In my view, it strongly vindsc- vindicates it.

I mean, of course, there are lobby groups who are per-perfectly entitled in, in our democracy, and I admire their values, who wanted the gov-government to go further and more quickly.

On the other hand, there are some who say that we're, we were, we were wrong to move ahead of other countries.

I think the government have got it right.

You see, the thing is, a government has a responsibility, a democratic responsibility, to advance both the values and the interests of the people.

And I think the government, uh, shares the values of those who condemn the, uh, illegal occupation and the treatment of the Palestinians and the destruction of houses and so on.

Do you think we are seeing a shift in attitudes across Europe?

It's a diplomatic dance, isn't it?

I think we do have the diplomatic now.

I mean, I'm not claiming it because I'm retired eight years now myself, but I'm sure that my former colleagues who are now running the presidency have the diplomatic now.

In horse racing terms, they're course and distance winners.

This is our eighth presidency.

It's an absolutely vast agenda.

I mean, some of the items on the agenda are more high profile, like negotiating the budget for the next eight years or... making progress on AI.

And you somehow have managed to condense the entire European Union down to 12 distinct objects.

Is that damaging to the European Union?

I think it's important, uh, Imran, to understand the decision-making procedures of the European Union.

They may sound a little bit boring, but they're very important.

Uh, Europe has to decide things either by unanimity, in which case all member states have to agree, or by qualified majority in which most of them have to agree.

And so it isn't the case, as I think you said earlier, that there was a split growing amongst the EU member states.

The, the starting point is that there are 27 individual countries with different histories a- and different perspectives, and it's very, very difficult to come together.

So on the various actions that could be taken against Israel, some require unanimity, such as suspending in full the associat- association agreement.

Which direction is that? Just clear that up for us, 'cause I'm, I'm, I'm interested to see w- you know, what that means for Ireland, what that means for the, for you, for, for the European Union.

Is that damaging to the European Union?

I think it's important, uh, Imran, to understand the decision-making procedures of the European Union.

They may sound a little bit boring, but they're very important.

Uh, Europe has to decide things either by unanimity, in which case all member states have to agree, or by qualified majority in which most of them have to agree.

And so it isn't the case, as I think you said earlier, that there was a split growing amongst the EU member states.

The, the starting point is that there are 27 individual countries with different histories a- and different perspectives, and it's very, very difficult to come together.

So on the various actions that could be taken against Israel, some require unanimity, such as suspending in full the associat- association agreement.

Which direction is that? Just clear that up for us, 'cause I'm, I'm, I'm interested to see w- you know, what that means for Ireland, what that means for the, for you, for, for the European Union.

What cultural misunderstanding have you had to navigate and what did you learn from it?

These are good questions.

Well, understanding different cultures is a huge part of the job.

So I spent many of my years representing Ireland in Brussels.

And I wouldn't say in that case that there's a cultural misunderstanding, but there's a need to understand different cultures.

After all, at the moment, there are 27 member states.

There were different numbers involved.

Who is the most important person you've met in your career?

And that went reasonably well for them, that actually the more grown up diplomacy you use around Donald Trump, the more he disrespects you and considers you to be weak.

There's a lot to be said for that Ciara but Europe's situation last year was more complex than say that of Canada because it's an existential issue truly for Europe that Russian aggression in Ukraine and which would spread beyond that is combated and until now US support for that has been necessary.

That was a crucial factor in the way Europe handled it last year.

So I think there's Time is a big factor in this.

I mean, we don't know how domestic opinion in the US will play out.

We know that 75% of Americans don't approve of taking over Greenland.

We know that more tariffs will damage US industry.

Are you saying you don't think that will work?

But, you know, if you're talking to the EU and you think, what are they going to do about it? Then you're more inclined to not pay much attention to them.

Well, I think that this is the very last time that we should abandon diplomacy because the world is under threat from increased aggression of the United States and Venezuela and Russia and Ukraine.

So there is no real alternative here.

to trying to use diplomacy to bring wars to an end or to avoid wars.

Now, the European Union can do things.

I mean, for example, it's imposing sanctions against Russia.

It has significant trade powers.

In the doomsday scenario, though, where he does do something to annex Greenland, and we have the US on the one side of the European Union and Russia on the other, what do we do? Do we have to abandon one of those things?