Margaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

A host of challenges and opportunities face the European Union and its member states. Meeting these collectively is in all our interests. The Lisbon reform treaty will improve the way the EU works, making it more effective at national and European level and on the world stage.

The EU has helped build an unbroken peace in Europe for 50 years. It has helped guide Greece, Portugal and Spain on the road from authoritarian to democratic rule. It has contributed to the peaceful transition of ten central and eastern European countries from the tyranny of communism to democracy.

Little is heard about how the Union ensured we adhere to better environmental standards or secured equal pay for equal work for women across Europe. What is heard is plenty of rhetoric about bloated and faceless bureaucracies. In the face of such charges, it is worth reminding ourselves of the truly profound, historic and progressive dynamic created by European integration. It has transformed our Continent and country, setting standards that people both near and far wish to emulate.

I accept the Union is not perfect. As an organisation made up of 27 member states, each with its own national interests and traditions, compromises must be made. However, the Union has shown time and again that national interests can be accommodated and that our shared interests are strong.

Since joining the then EEC in 1973, Ireland has been transformed. Our economic, political, social and cultural horizons have broadened. The economic contribution the Union has made to Irish life is perhaps the best documented aspect of this story. The EU has also opened other doors to us, both here at home and in the wider world. It has given us an opportunity to bring our own distinctive views to the table of the most important political and economic bloc in the world. It has also provided us with an important new context in which to address the Northern Ireland conflict and to build better relations between all the people of this island. As a small nation, it has given us confidence to sit as equals among the biggest players on the world stage.

I will encourage people to vote "Yes" in the upcoming referendum because the treaty will reform the EU's structures to take account of a membership of 27 states, reform and improve the democratic deficit in the EU and further copperfasten our neutrality.

The reform treaty is an important achievement for the Union. It responds to the needs of today's Union with its increased membership numbering 27 member states. It will equip it to meet the emerging challenges of the 21st century. The treaty contains several institutional provisions which will make its structures more effective and give it a stronger voice on the world stage.

One major change is the proposed full-time president of the European Council who will co-ordinate the Council's work, a function currently carried out by the EU Presidency which rotates between member state governments every six months. The treaty provides for a dedicated chair at the highest level, in a position to direct the Council's discussions and provide valuable continuity. At present, different countries holding the EU Presidency every six months often bring their own priorities and to-do lists which can lead to a disconnect and a lack of medium to long-term planning and discussion.

The proposed post of high representative for foreign affairs and security policy will act to increase the visibility and influence of the EU in international affairs. This is an essential development as many of the challenges we will face in the coming years will be external ones. A concerted European response to such issues as energy, security, climate change, development aid and immigration will be vital. Contrary to claims, the high representative will not set foreign policy. All 27 member states will continue to set policy acting unanimously.

A further reform in the treaty is the plan to reduce the number of Commissioners by one third from 2014. Much has been made of this by the treaty's opponents. These new rules will affect all member states equally. Ireland, nor any other smaller member states, is not being singled out. When we joined the then EEC, the larger member states nominated two Commissioners while the smaller countries nominated just one. The Nice treaty has already made provision for this change and it is to be welcomed.

Climate change, drug-trafficking and pollution are just some issues that do not recognise borders. They need trans-European and cross-border co-operation. Passing the treaty will allow the EU be more effective at tackling such issues.

The "No" campaigners claim the proposed voting system will halve Ireland's voting strength. The truth is that under the new system, double-majority voting will give proportionate weight to population while protecting the interests of small and medium-sized member states. This is particularly good news for Ireland.

This will be achieved by specifying that a qualified majority would require 55% of member states and 65% of the Union's population. Sinn Féin's claims against this proposal are based on counting only one part of the voting in its calculations. Recently at the National Forum on Europe event in Monaghan, I stated this is like failing to count the goals when deciding who has won the match.

The treaty will see an enhanced role for national parliaments. Despite misleading claims by those opposed to it, the treaty actually gives a greater role to national parliaments. This will give the EU the legitimacy that some feel it lacked in the past. For the first time, national parliaments will have a direct input into the evolution of European legislation. It will do much to address the so-called democratic deficit. Under the treaty, national parliaments will be able to bring their influence to bear by offering reasoned opinions on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of proposals coming from the EU Commission.

There has been much scaremongering in the media that ratification of the treaty would result in the introduction of tax harmonisation and threaten our favourable corporation tax rates. There are scare stories that a "Yes" vote will give the EU permission to make decisions that will threaten Irish interests. This is simply not true. All Ireland's key issues will be protected. As taxation, defence and foreign policies require unanimous voting, Ireland will have a veto. We will also retain our protocol on abortion.

Irish neutrality has been the subject of countless scare stories and has been hijacked by the "No" camp to encourage the electorate to reject the treaty. The treaty will have no effect on our military neutrality. Under the Constitution, Ireland cannot participate in an EU common defence. This position will remain unchanged under the reform treaty and will be reaffirmed in the 28th amendment of the Constitution. The triple lock arrangements that have governed the commitment of the Army to any overseas operation will remain in place in that any operation would require Government and Dáil approval and a United Nations mandate. There is nothing in the treaty to change that. We have heard this red herring argument at every treaty referendum, but it is yet to be the case. The reform treaty will put in place structures for EU-led military missions, but each member state is free to participate as it chooses. None can be forced into participation in any mission. Claims of a new European army are bogus.

The EU has been good for Ireland and our active role within Europe has played a vital part in improving our standards of living and our quality of life. Membership of the Union has been crucial to our social development. For example, an entire generation has grown up expecting to be treated fairly and equally regardless of gender, race or religion. The quality of life for hundreds of thousands of our people has changed for the better because Ireland is part of Europe. Better conditions of employment, safety regulations, maximum working hours, protection of young workers, equal treatment for men and women and the introduction of maternity leave, parental leave and child care have all come about because of our collaboration with Europe.

Sinn Féin opposes the treaty as it has opposed every referendum on Europe. Its Members say that they are pro-Europe. Following their logic, however, it would be better for us either not to be in Europe or to be in Europe but only to such a peripheral extent that we might as well not be in it. Opposed to this is the Fianna Fáil stance, which is to be involved at all stages, to punch above our weight and to earn respect for being prepared to compromise while standing strong on fundamental issues instead of huffing and puffing on the sidelines.

I encourage people to vote "Yes". I welcome the opportunity to debate and discuss the issues, but there is an onus on us all to do so in a truthful manner instead of dealing with innuendo or anecdotal evidence. We must present the facts as they are to the public, which deserves it. I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to contribute.

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