Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

That money comes from the taxpayer. The Minister is denying that this provision exists in the treaty. Perhaps he would like to have the record corrected in respect of the misleading announcement he made earlier. Unlike the Danes, the Irish Government did not seek or secure an opt-out from the European defence agency. It is disappointing that the Green Party, so vocal on these issues in the past, has remained quiet now. I can think of many schools, hospitals and community groups that would like to receive a small portion of the €8 million per annum spent by Ministers on the promotion of nuclear power through the EURATOM Treaty, another matter on which the Green Party has remained silent.

There has been a great deal of scaremongering during this debate in respect of the economy. Some of my colleagues will return to prove this treaty will affect our economy in the future and to deny what the Minister, the Labour Party and Fine Gael have said. It is not too late for us. Even at this late stage, the Government can withdraw from this process. It can turn around agus impím ar an Rialtas a rá leis an Comhairle Eorpach gur shínigh an lacha bacach sin, an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, an conradh in éadan tola muintir na hÉireann agus i gcoinne leasa an phobail agus go bhfuil muid sásta anois tarraingt siar go dtí go ndéanfar na hathruithe suntasacha atá de dhíth orainn. Muna ndéantar sin, beidh sé de chrógacht ag pobail an Stáit diúltú don mhuc i mála atá an Rialtas ag cur iachall ortha a cheannach.

Léireoidh seo féiniúlacht, dánacht agus flaitheas muintir na hÉireann don domhan, agus seachas caitheamh anuas orainn nó tromaíocht inár gcoinne, beidh meas orainn dá réir. Tá a lán daoine san Aontas Eorpach ag braith orainn an cinneadh ceart a ghlacadh chun todhchaí na hEorpa a chosaint, is é sin Aontas Eorpach ina bhfuil leas an phobail mar ceartlár, aontas forásach, síochánta agus cothrom, seachas Aontas Eorpach santach, míleata, cúngaigeantach atá á mhúnlú conradh i ndiaidh conartha.

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