Seán Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish to rebut the myths which Sinn Féin has put out regarding the Lisbon reform treaty. To a great extent, that party's claims are either demonstrably false or total distortions.

The first claim is that the treaty erodes Ireland's neutrality, which is completely untrue. Effectively, the treaty strengthens our capacity to help out militarily in ways that make Ireland proud but it does not directly impact on Irish neutrality. The provisions contained within it associated with qualified majority voting specifically exclude all future European security, defence and foreign policy matters which will continue to require a unanimous vote at EU level. The triple lock mechanism, whereby Dáil, Government and UN approval is needed before the Defence Forces enter action outside this country, remains in place. In an article in The Irish Times Dr. Tom Clonan has written:

Ratification of the treaty would have two effects in relation to Ireland's neutral stance. A Yes vote would preserve our sovereign input into EU security and defence decisions at the level of Council of Ministers. The treaty would therefore ensure that any decision about future common defence — or indeed any future EU civilian mission or military operation — could only be taken by unanimous vote at the EU Council of Ministers. By preserving the intergovernmental nature, with all EU member states having equal status, with regard to CSFP and ESDP decisions, Ireland would remain capable of effectively expressing its neutral stance in a manner that would meaningfully impact on EU defence decisions. In other words, a Yes vote would guarantee Ireland's ability to veto any future common defence concept — or indeed any EU military mission or operation that Ireland deemed inappropriate.

I think the European Union is ashamed of what happened in the Balkans in the 1990s. We should have been in a position to prevent the massacres that took place. In terms of the old concept of noblesse oblige, the Union was the power adjacent to the Balkans and, therefore, had an obligation to act. We failed to meet that obligation because we did not have the necessary protocols in place. The treaty will expand joint disarmament operations, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance, conflict prevention and peacekeeping and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking and post-conflict stabilisation, thereby contributing to the fight against terrorism, including by supporting third countries in combating terrorism in their territories. It will also allow us to act where there is the potential to do so to prevent wars and massacres such as those that occurred in the Balkans. Neutrality is not affected in any way in so far as the triple lock mechanism remains, while our capacity to contribute to operations addressed by the Petersberg Tasks is strengthened. We will be more able to perform our duties on the international scene.

In regard to Sinn Féin's claim that the treaty is undemocratic, Deputy Varadkar referred to issues such as the expanded role of the European Parliament and national parliaments and the new citizen's initiative. These will greatly enhance democracy in the European Union.

Sinn Féin claims that the treaty gives a number of new competencies to the European Union and will mark a move in a number of areas from unanimity to majority voting. To a great extent, this claim is true but the change will allow for more effective operation of EU institutions. Decisions will be made in ways that have benefited Ireland in the past and will benefit us even more in the future. Unanimity has been preserved in the areas which are of particular interest to us. The issue of taxation, in particular, has recently come to the fore because of the red herring thrown out by the French in regard to the potential for a pan-European taxation system on the basis of charging tax where products are sold rather than where they are manufactured. Given the amount of Microsoft products sold in Ireland compared to the United Kingdom, France and Germany, we would lose out tremendously on that basis.

Sinn Féin also claims that the new voting system halves Ireland's voting strength but it has got its sums totally wrong in that regard. At least 55% of member states and 65% of EU citizens will have to show support in order to pass any proposal, which helps to protect smaller nations.

In regard to the claim that the treaty puts at risk our right to a referendum on future changes to existing treaties, it actually provides that any changes must be ratified in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each member state. In our case, therefore, a plebiscite would be required.

Ireland has benefited enormously from its membership of the European Union. The younger people in Ireland today do not see Berlin and Paris in the same way we used to see Cork and Galway. Travel has made the world a global village but within Europe, it is a smaller village still. The synergies that have developed, the benefit to the economy, the growth in GDP and the advent of the euro have all helped in such a way that it would be unthinkable for us not to follow through and vote "Yes" for the reform treaty and continue as a major player, though a small country, in the Europe of tomorrow.

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