Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Even though the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, will wind up at the end of the debate, I wish to make some remarks in response to some of the issues raised by the Deputies. Deputy Allen spoke about Iran and its nuclear capability. Ireland has full confidence in the EU three in this matter. As I have previously said at meetings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs, we are briefed on a regular basis and were briefed on the current situation as recently as Monday. I accept that it is an extremely difficult and potentially dangerous topic, probably one of the most difficult on our agenda at the moment. The three member states are carrying out their discussions and negotiations with the full imprimatur of the 25. Their involvement on behalf of the EU has had a calming effect on a potentially more divisive international debate. It should be allowed to continue in this respect.

As always Deputy Quinn made very constructive remarks and suggestions on these issues. I entirely agree with him on the need to instil leadership in how we proceed in what is a difficult but not unique situation. The EU has been in difficult situations before. I agree with his suggestion for more public meetings of European Councils of Ministers. Ireland will continue to promote more transparency in these matters. If the constitution had been given a chance in that respect, this matter would have been progressed. He suggested better connections between the European and national parliaments in both decisions and the level of scrutiny. All parliaments need to know more. We learnt from the first referendum on the Nice treaty and we have introduced an element of scrutiny. Perhaps we should do more. I am open to considering some of the issues raised by the joint committee in that respect.

Deputy Ó Caoláin made a point about debate. It is a matter for the Whips to agree what can be debated in the House. I accept that in debates such as this we do not get a huge opportunity to go into issues in detail. However, this is one of the reasons for having the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs.

Deputy Gormley said that the European constitution was redundant. Whatever I am, I am a democrat. A number of countries have already ratified the constitution including two by referenda. What are we to say to those countries given that when we originally started on this road we agreed——

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