Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

Tá mé an-bhuíoch go bhfuil deis agam labhairt maidin inniu.

I welcome yesterday's announcement to the effect that a referendum on the fiscal compact is both required and will be held. In my view there is only one reason to vote "Yes" to the treaty, namely, that we will not have access to moneys from any new bailout fund if we do not do so. This is probably the only good reason to vote in favour of the treaty. I attended an interparliamentary meeting in Brussels in recent days at which considerably difficult issues regarding the contents of the fiscal compact were raised. The British have severe doubts about the legality of the compact. I expressed similar doubts a number of weeks ago. Questions also arose at the meeting in the context of what constitutes a structural deficit. One of the speakers informed us that there are at least 27 definitions in this regard. These issues will have to be teased out. On that basis, I request that the Leader meet his counterparts among the other groups in the House in order to establish the format that will apply in respect of the debate in which we will engage on this matter. We must ensure that our debate reaches the widest possible audience and has the greatest possible impact on people. We could do the public a good service by engaging in a Committee Stage-style debate. I accept that this is agreed but we should be informed as to the details of the debate.