Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I do not want to go back over old ground but the second Nice treaty referendum contained a civil declaration that constituted a significant change from the first agreement. This change was widely supported by those interest groups that had difficulties with the first referendum and this should not be forgotten. The referenda were not the same as the change was negotiated and sanctioned by the European Council and attached to the Nice treaty to meet the requirements of this country with the agreement of our political system.

State aids are part of the Internal Market and, from time to time, negotiations on such issues take place — there is no question of us opting out of state aid rules as to do so would not be in our interests. Sometimes we have arguments with the Commission on advantages specific to us but the Internal Market brings us many benefits. It is not feasible to opt out of one particular aspect of the Internal Market.

Regarding foreign affairs issues, there have been movements away from the concept of a European constitution and it is now a reform treaty. Many of the trappings of the constitution treaty, Article No. 8 and others, have been deleted as has the concept of a Foreign Ministry for the entire EU, as originally envisaged. The treaty now strengthens the European Union's ability to act on the world stage in support of our shared values and objectives and it does so by enhancing the coherence and effectiveness of the EU's external relations. Notably it seeks to appoint an EU high representative on foreign affairs and security policy, a position not too different from that currently held by Javier Solana. It will enable the Union to develop capabilities for conflict prevention and crisis management while ensuring, in our case, that any arrangements are fully consistent with Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality and, in the case of other countries, that they have control over their own arrangements, consistent with their constitutional and legal position. The concept of the Foreign Affairs Minister, as it was, is now amended.

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