Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Gabhaim comhghairdeas le Stádas as an toradh a fuair siad as a bhfeachtas, agus buíochas leis an Taoiseach agus an Rialtas as an stádas sin a bhaint amach don teanga. Is trua nach bhfuil gach duine sásta leis an chéim mhór chun tosaigh a fuair an Ghaeilge, agus measaim go raibh léiriú ar an meon caolaigeanta sin san Irish Times agus The Evening Herald inné.

Agus mé ag labhairt ar mheon caolaigeanta, measaim chomh maith go bhfuil comhghairdeas ag dul dóibh siúd a sheas ag an deireadh seachtaine ar son cothromais i gcoinne an bhaic a chuir méara Warsaw ar mháirseáil aerach agus leispiach. Tá comhghairdeas ag dul do na póilíní a sheas leis an phobal ar son cearta daonna sa tír sin.

The crisis in the ratification process of the proposed EU constitution was a hot topic of the EU summit. I can only say vive la France. The French and Dutch have taken a courageous stance and expressed their democratic choice. We respect that and hope that other parties do the same, unlike the approach taken by Government parties with regard to the Nice treaty.

The French and Dutch votes have fatally wounded the constitution. However, it is not yet buried because it contains a clause which allows member states to proceed if the 80% ratification threshold is reached. For that reason, the EU seeks to introduce a longer period of consultation, but that is not required to kill off and bury this constitution.

While I oppose the constitution, I welcome an opportunity for Irish people to add our weight to the rejections delivered by the French and Dutch and by citizens of other countries. The treaty text is complex and the many reasons which exist for its rejection by Irish, French, Dutch, British, Czechs, Danes and others should be taken into account when EU leaders are forced back to the drawing board. They might, for once, listen. The EU elites and federalists have created this new delay on ratification because they are running scared of the democratic will of the peoples of Europe. One need only look at the arch-federalist and architect of the EU constitution, Mr. Giscard d'Estaing. He lamented that the French voters read the document following its distribution to every household. The reality is that, once people in this country educate themselves on the European project, they will reject it in the same manner as the French and Dutch.

The Government and the people have different desires for the EU. It is our job to prove that a more equal and democratic EU is possible. If the Government is intent on putting a dead duck before the people, we are ready and we will defeat it.

See this speech in context