Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy knows, the treaty is required to be ratified by all 27 countries. A total of 18 countries ratified the constitutional treaty and they must return to their respective parliaments with the reform treaty for ratification.

With regard to our process, as the Taoiseach stated, the strong advice of the Attorney General is that the issue must be put before the people, which I welcome. Most political parties know the mood of the people has always been pro-European and they recognise the benefits of being a strong member of the Union. Time and again, they have shown they do not agree with the view expressed by Sinn Féin that treaties would have an adverse effect on our military neutrality. The position on common defence is exactly as it was under the Nice treaty, which was ratified. All common defence issues must be determined by unanimity. That was one of Ireland's red lines going into these negotiations, along with the issue of taxation. We easily succeeded in ensuring the position on common defence would remain as it was.

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