Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I attended the meeting of the heads of the groups of the European People's Party in Lisbon prior to the meeting of the Heads of Government. I was happy that the support for the reform treaty was very strong. I will not harp any longer on my point that the European People's Party leaders were somewhat disappointed over the Government's decision on the opt-out position and that they perceived a weakening of the Irish stance that would have consequences for Europe and the reform process. I stated I agreed with the position of the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Roche, namely, that we should not have chosen that option, and I stick to my position. Bearing in mind the emergency break system, the suspension of any proposal that might infringe unduly upon the Irish legal system could be well catered for by the consensus required by the Council in resolving the issues associated with any such proposal.

In recent days, I said to ordinary people in my part of the country that one vote could decide the referendum and consequently the progress of up to 500 million people. Every single Irish voter will have an incredible opportunity and responsibility. Despite the differences between parties in the House, Fine Gael has always been very strongly in favour of the European Union and it will support the reform treaty publicly. On foot of the appointment of our spokesperson on European affairs, we will conduct our own public meetings around the country in addition to what I assume the National Forum on Europe and other parties will do. The treaty is of major significance to the future of this Continent, bearing in mind the challenges it will face from the Far East, south-east Asia, the United States and South America over the next 20 to 25 years.

A European Union of 16 members cannot function in the same way as one with 27. When one considers that every headbanger in Europe will probably be in Ireland when the referendum takes place, and that they will be well resourced in many cases, one will realise there may be some very exciting public meetings. I hope the Irish electorate will consider the fundamentals of the reform treaty and recognise that it is for their good and that of the other countries of the Union.

Europe, in its own way, faces a moment of truth in three particular areas, the first of which concerns the EU reform treaty, which I hope is passed. Second, it faces a moment of truth in respect of Kosovo, which is still legally part of Serbia. There are 2 million Kosovar Albanians and 90,000 Serbs living in a very uneasy relationship with each other. I visited the Irish troops south of Pristina two years ago with Deputy Timmins and we saw on many occasions the excellent work they were doing in very difficult circumstances. The Serbs rejected the Ahtisaari plan, which guaranteed the Kosovans supervised independence, and were backed by the Russian President. In the face of Russian opposition, and given that independence may well be declared in the region, which would probably be backed by the United States, Europe will have to make a decision. In view of the fact that Irish troops have been in the region for quite some time and have done a great job, we should certainly consider this matter seriously.

The third issue concerns the fact that Europe must address the growing concern over Iran. Iran is seeking to establish a nuclear programme and this is being resisted by many other countries. I do not know whether this will be dealt with through a resolution of the UN Security Council. However, when I heard the French President, Mr. Sarkozy, talking in August about it being a question of the Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran, and in September he stated he did not use the word "war", I realised it is of extreme importance to the entire European Continent that this matter be addressed. The Council needs to get its act together in terms of adopting a view thereon.

I had assumed that the Joanina compromise, a protocol added by the Poles, was no longer relevant after the Nice treaty, but it still pertains in one form or another. I suppose the Poles wanted to make their point clear in this regard.

Reference was made to the Taoiseach as a prospective President of the Council of the European Union. I do not know whether he is interested or not, but regardless of his view, it will probably be said that he is.

I am glad that the treaty contains a competence regarding climate change and I am happy that the Government has agreed to the appointment of a new committee dealing with energy security and climate change requirements. This problem is coming down the tracks whether we like it or not. The committee will play its part, not only in terms of doing what must be done in Ireland but also in terms of participating fully in a European effort to meet the Kyoto targets or other new targets that might be set.

Fine Gael will support the reform treaty and campaign publicly in respect thereof. I hope the electorate will be given the opportunity to understand clearly the implications of the treaty for the future of Ireland and the European Union as a whole because it is for the future of the next generation of citizens from all member states that we are now laying the foundations.

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