Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas as ucht an seans seo chun cainte ar an reifreann. Reifreann stairiúil atá ann, mar is é an chéad reifreann a bhéas againn i ndiaidh stádas oifigiúil a bhaint amach don Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill. We are in the run-up to referendum day on 12 June when the issues that have been under discussion in the House and around the country in recent months can finally be put to rest. I pay tribute to the National Forum on Europe on its work since its foundation in 2001 under the chairmanship of former Senator, Dr. Maurice Hayes, and his directorate and on the work it continues to do in the run-up to the referendum on the Lisbon treaty. I pay tribute to the work of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, which is travelling around the country to present arguments in a fair and balanced manner so as to engage with and involve people and to encourage them to vote on 12 June. All political parties in the House are mobilising their activists and voters, such is the importance of a "Yes" vote on 12 June, not just to Irish interests, but to European interests generally.

Those who oppose the EU reform treaty do so from a number of points of view. We must respect that some are genuine, a fact we cannot dismiss, but other points of view have been held unchanged for the 35 years of our membership despite all the benefits and evidence to the contrary. Ireland has punched far above its traditional weight in that time. From the late Dr. Patrick Hillery, to whom the country paid rightful tribute last week, to Mr. Charlie McCreevy, our Commissioners have generally occupied top level posts and have been instrumental in changing the face of Europe and the lives of Europeans. Our Commissioners will continue to do this in future.

Despite our relatively small European Parliament delegation, an Irishman, Mr. Pat Cox, served as President and Irish parliamentarians serve as group leaders regularly. For example, Mr. Brian Crowley, MEP, serves as the leader of his group in Europe. Irish people such as Mr. David O'Sullivan and Ms Catherine Day have served in the top levels of the Commission's civil service. Irish people throughout the directorates are putting their cases forward and fighting a European cause from an Irish viewpoint.

We paid tribute to the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, on this historic day, but Irish Presidencies of the European Council from all sides of the House have delivered significantly. The Tánaiste referred to his pride when the Taoiseach was able to put together a deal of 27 countries, something that only an Irish person could have done. That deal will continue post Lisbon via the treaty's significant and important reforms. They will strengthen the EU bloc, its powers and its global presence at a time when it needs to be strengthened. Equally, the democratic foundations that serve the bloc and on which it is built — an EU of nation states — will be strengthened. The directly elected European Parliament will be given more power, thereby enhancing its role in the making of EU legislation. The treaty will enhance the role of voters. The Oireachtas will be given more power in anticipating and commenting on legislation before it is tabled at the Commission and European Parliament. Through the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny and various other committees, we will have a chance to influence EU legislation that we do not currently have.

Instead of the "one for everybody in the audience" approach adapted to date, the Commission will be more effective, better equipped to deal with global challenges and better able to deliver for the people of Europe. We should not fear the loss of an automatic right to a commissioner. Rather, we should look forward to it and know that we will continue to punch above our weight. Other structures are in place to ensure that our interests are represented when we do not have a Commissioner.

The challenges the Lisbon treaty is intended to address are considerable. As a small nation of 4 million people, we have no hope of dealing with them effectively without full participation in a reformed Europe. As Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, I am learning at first hand of the challenges we face in those respects. The threat to energy security from blocs and influences outside the EU is significant and we cannot continue to take for granted that we will always have oil and gas. Unless we strengthen and equip the EU to act as a strong bloc, we will no longer be able to guarantee supply. Unless we address climate change, all the European structures may be useless in 100 years. The global challenges presented by climate change can only be dealt with on a bloc-by-bloc basis and through a strengthened EU.

For 35 years, we have been told by opponents that Europe will be bad and that there will be a European army. I am one of those people who should have served in that army 35 years after Ireland's joining, but I have not done any service, nor will anyone after this treaty. We were told that all types of things that go against our national character would be forced upon us, but there has been none. We were told that we would be taken over by all types of cultural influences and that our culture would diminish, but has Irish culture ever been stronger than it is now in terms of arts, language and traditions? This is because we have gained a confidence from and have not been afraid of embracing EU membership. Those of us who propose a "Yes" vote are proposing a continuation of this approach to Europe. This approach would tackle it head on and sees every part of our EU membership as an opportunity for Ireland, rather than as a challenge. As a nation and a people, we have the ability, brainpower and strength to make the most of European Union membership and we will continue to do so.

On 12 June, we can say to the people of Europe that we are at its heart, are in its engine-room and wish to remain there. Alternatively, we could pull back and decide that, in future, we wish to be on the edges of Europe. While we will not be thrown out of the European Union if we vote "No", our influence as a player would be considerably diminished and damaged. Such a vote would considerably damage our ability and chances to grow our economy, services and culture further. This chance is not worth taking on foot of opposition based on not being able to read the treaty or not being able to understand what it means. That is not a reason to vote "No" and nor is opposition based on allegations and mistruths that have been spread around for 35 years and which, 35 years later, remain untrue. I intend to vote "Yes" and I encourage my constituents and supporters to do so. We will be working hard to this end, as will the majority of political parties in this House. We do so from a position of strength and look forward to even more strength in future.

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