Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

However, Deputy Quinn was not a Member of the Oireachtas and was not as constrained as then Deputy Cruise O'Brien was at the time. Those who oppose the treaty and opposed previous treaties have a duty to explain what future they see for this country. They seem to be offering a march towards isolationism and economic decline — an Albanianisation of Ireland, so to speak. There is no doubt the Union has brought great economic benefits to the Irish people. States are clamouring to join the Union. Many of them cite Ireland as an example of the road they wish to follow. We need to bring it down to this question for the people in the referendum: is Europe to be viewed as a threat for Ireland or an opportunity? We must put across to the people that our experience in the past 35 years shows the opportunities that can be availed of in Europe. There are major opportunities for us in the Europe of the future also.

Our command of the English language is a huge advantage to us in the Europe that is now evolving, where English, in effect, has become the lingua franca — if Deputies will forgive the phrase — of the modern Europe.

See this speech in context