Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I do not accept Deputy D'Arcy's assertion that the momentum is with the "No" side. Nor do I accept his criticism of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coughlan, in respect of the WTO negotiations. The criticism he has levelled is unfair, unbalanced and inaccurate. It is well recognised among members of the farming community that whereas a majority of EU member states were inclined towards agreement on the proposals put forward by Peter Mandelson, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has persuaded most of them to change their position and oppose them. The Minister, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have built alliances in Europe that are of assistance in ensuring our national interests are protected.

In some ways, this is a good example of the role Ireland plays in Europe and the respect in which it is held by other member states. Ireland, which is a small nation, had major influence in the past and can continue to exert such influence in the future. I attended several Council of Europe meetings in the aftermath of the first referendum on the Nice treaty. Europe was a lonely place for us at that stage, particularly because the people had voted "No" to the treaty. I do not want to see a repeat performance.

At the core of the treaty is the need to ensure the EU institutions are reformed in order that many new initiatives can be implemented to help the European economy grow and prosper. Europe needs to implement the treaty so it can become more competitive and meet the changes that are evident in the political and business arenas.

After 50 years, the European Union must modernise the way it does its business. I accept that it has changed and that various treaties were implemented during the past 50 years. However, it is imperative to reform the Union in order that it can face up to a new set of challenges. Ireland and other EU member states are not the only countries in the world seeking to secure higher levels of inward investment and compete in an increasingly globalised world. We compete for new business in that world against other trading blocs including India, China, Brazil and many other emerging countries in Asia. Europe and Ireland cannot, therefore, afford to stand still. We must be at the top of our game and the EU reform treaty will assist us in this regard.

The treaty contains important new provisions that strengthen the EU's ability to fight cross-border crime, illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings, arms and drugs. Due to the fact that it has a different legal system to most of its EU partners, Ireland will rely on the procedure contained in the treaty which enables it to opt in or out on a case-by-case basis. This, again, is a good example of a community working in partnership and recognising differences within individual member states. It is our intention to work closely with our EU partners in respect of the areas to which I refer. The treaty will allow us to do so without, in any way, compromising our legal systems or procedures.

When it comes to institutional changes, and despite the arguments being peddled by some people, Ireland will have exactly the same right to representation on the European Commission as Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and all the other member states, large and small. Ireland will retain its EU Commissioner until 2014 and thereafter will have a place on the Commission on the basis of a system of strict equality among all member states of the EU.

As in the past, the "No" side has referred to two red herrings. In that context, I reiterate that the treaty will not diminish Ireland's status as a neutral country by one iota nor will it threaten our ability to set our own taxes. On the latter point, there is no ambiguity in respect of the taxation issue. None of the provisions in the reform treaty relating to taxation will affect our status. All aspects of taxation remain within the competence of individual member states. The Government is committed to maintaining its policy in this regard.

I found it startling to hear somebody who had claimed to have read the treaty go on to say he found it difficult to read and could not understand it. He further proved it by saying it would affect our corporation tax status. It was serious enough to have somebody coming out in that manner but that individual was given first place on the news by our national broadcaster. Meanwhile, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who was able to show the importance of the European Union in job creation — 136,000 because of foreign direct investment — was relegated to second place on the same news bulletin. There is something seriously wrong when that can arise, but I suppose we will be told that this is all done in the interests of balance.

The other red herring I mentioned was our neutrality which has been stated by Deputies on all sides of the House. It is worth reiterating the point because it is a worry. Ireland's neutrality is not in any way compromised or affected by the treaty. That is a fact and remains so.

Leaving aside the red herrings and negative points made, we should vote for the treaty because it is in Ireland's economic interests to stay as an active and central member of the European Union. Companies which wish to use Ireland as a gateway to the EU marketplace of 500 million citizens want Ireland to remain as a committed member state of the Union. That is certainly the way we want to do it also.

The treaty improves democracy within the European Union. It will reform the way in which the Union does its business. It respects the importance of rights and freedoms for each and every one of us. It gives a new role in EU affairs to national parliaments, including the Oireachtas. It will give more influence to the citizens of Europe. It will deal with problems that would be impossible for us to deal with effectively on our own. It is better to be part of the Union to deal with such matters. The treaty will give the European Union, including Ireland, a voice that will be more clearly heard in world affairs in support of human rights and democratic values. That is why it is important for the people to give a resounding "Yes" vote to the treaty.

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