Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Finian McGrath.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the legislation and the issue to which it relates. I wish to highlight a number of reasons I believe Ireland should vote "Yes" in the referendum on the EU reform treaty.

The Tánaiste dealt briefly with the myth being put about by the parties that Deputies D'Arcy and Burton represent to the effect that Fianna Fáil and its Ministers are not active and organised in respect of the campaign. None of the parties has officially launched their campaigns as yet. Last week I attended open meetings in two different parts of the country which were organised by the Fianna Fáil Party. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the treaty and explain it to people. Members of the Green Party, the IFA and Fine Gael attended the meetings to which I refer. I also attended a number of meetings in my constituency at which the treaty was discussed and explained. I do not want the myth created by Fine Gael and the Labour Party to gain any credence.

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