Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)

I wish to share my time with Deputy Paul Kehoe.

I welcome the chance to say a few words on this campaign and to discuss the proposed amendment to the Constitution and the Lisbon treaty, which is a very important subject. It is also worthwhile conducting a frank debate about facts because despite some posters that have appeared, this issue pertains to facts and not to politics. Some campaigners must realise that democracy requires the involvement of good politicians. Democracy needs people and that is what politics is about. Unfortunately, some cases and campaigns lack facts and the media should give proper and worthwhile coverage to all sides in this regard. Hopefully that man and his bus will continue on his own around the country.

I will refer to a couple of areas in which Ireland has gained significantly apart from Ireland's transformation since its accession to the EU. As I was not born until 1978, I was not present before that. However, I read about it and talk about it on a regular basis to my grandparents, parents, other family members and the people I represent. Everyone tells me that Ireland has been utterly transformed since joining the EU all those years ago. Consequently, this area is extremely important. I refer to the benefits of markets, new labour laws, greater rights for people and access to travel, for young people in particular, as well as for opportunities that now exist for people of all ages and people's rights.

Apart from such benefits, however, one forgets that the European project's greatest original contribution was peace. This aspect also helped us in talks regarding Northern Ireland. While we have benefited greatly since 1973, the idea behind Europe pertains to peace and this point appears to be forgotten in our nationwide debates. People appear to leave this aspect to one side and talk about peace as though it always was present, which is not the case. Moreover, we did not always have the right to free travel or to move around to avail of opportunities in many countries. These are positive aspects. Were a treaty to have negative aspects — I can find none in the treaty under discussion — it sometimes would be worth certain sacrifices to be part of that greater market and that great force in Europe in future.

However, this is not the case. I can only find positive aspects to this treaty and am unable to find any negative aspects. This message should get across to the people and they should engage in this issue. Now that an approximate date has been set, six to eight weeks remain for Members to debate this issue properly. People should become interested in it because it is highly important. It will be very important for Ireland in the future to be seen to be proactive and pro-European. Our friends and counterparts, predominately in Europe but also in other parts of the world, including businesses and so on, are watching Ireland. We have a good reputation and enjoy strong good will in Europe and its markets. However, this will not continue were we to continue to say "No" to certain matters. We must work with them and give other countries a chance to benefit from a greater Europe in the future. I hope we will do so and I will vote "Yes" in respect of a range of issues. Those who are campaigning for a "No" vote should realise, by reading the document, that what they say is not always true. They should engage in proper debate rather than trying simply to scaremonger and put people off. It is very important to do so.

I referred to a range of issues. Speaking as Fine Gael's spokesperson on labour affairs and small business, this treaty does nothing negative in respect of our markets, Irish jobs or the economy. It can only help to expand it and will bring more benefits. It proposes a faster and more efficient Europe, which is always to the benefit of business. There will be even greater access to markets. Our businesses, exporters and those who seek jobs will have access to far greater opportunities and this can only be a good thing. We will retain our veto in respect of tax policy. We will retain our own tax policy and corporation tax rate and we will choose whether to reduce or raise it. This is not being taken away from us, despite numerous assertions to the contrary. Such assertions constitute scaremongering because it is untrue. Moreover, in many other areas, including neutrality, we will be able to make our own choice in this regard. This Parliament, together with the people of Ireland, will make the decision at any given time in this respect.

By ratifying this treaty, Ireland will remain a highly attractive location for multinationals to set up and to continue working. Business will prosper under this treaty. There is an onus on the Government, as Members have asserted many times in this House, to do certain things to help business prosper. While it has done some, there are more to be done. However, that is a separate issue to Europe. This treaty can only enhance the areas of job opportunity, business expansion and growth and access to greater markets. It has helped and will continue to help in respect of employment rights and other issues that Members, including the Acting Chairman, have discussed in recent years. Various Bills have been implemented in the House regarding maternity leave, adoptive leave and so on, all of which come from a proactive Europe. Sometimes we lag behind slightly but we are getting there and are catching up. Hopefully we will adopt EU initiatives more expeditiously in future, but that is for another day.

Last weekend, I was disappointed to see a prominent businessman backing the "No" campaign in this regard. Again, the aforementioned Libertas bus is still going around with only one or two people aboard and I hope it remains empty. I will name five or six different business people and leaders in society who have positively campaigned against this. They are Turlough O'Sullivan, director general of IBEC; Maurice Pratt, group chief executive, C & C Group plc; Paul Nolan, group development manager at Dawn Meats, Waterford; Patricia Callan, director, Small Firms Association; Brian Goggin, group chief executive, Bank of Ireland; and Paul Rellis, general manager, Microsoft Ireland. These business people have stepped up to the mark, put their names to it and have campaigned for a "Yes" vote. The media also should give them coverage and get that message out there. Previously, at Question Time, I stated that business people have a major role in helping politicians to get the treaty across the line and to spread the good word because they are in tune with it. Their voices, along with many others, should drown out the one or two individuals who probably have different agendas than simply blocking this treaty. There is more to their agenda and proper coverage should be given to the comments of the aforementioned people in future.

The European Union has expanded using stop-gap measures in recent years. The current structures of the EU were designed for a Union with significantly fewer member states. Over the years, the EU has welcomed many new member states through a number of short-term reforms introduced by the Amsterdam and Nice treaties. As a result of this stop-gap approach, it now is necessary to update the workings of the EU for the 27 current member states and any future accession states. It is an accepted point that the European Union must adapt some of its structures to operate in a more efficient and effective manner with greatly increased membership. This must happen by way of the treaty under discussion, the Lisbon treaty, which is beneficial to us all. It provides for faster decision-making, as well as value for money savings.

The Lisbon treaty contains a number of institutional changes that are designed to improve the coherence and efficiency of the Union that, in turn, will give it a stronger voice on the world stage. For example, there will be a high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who will act to increase the visibility and influence of the Union in international affairs. This position is necessary to increase the Union's presence along with the powerhouses of the United States of America and Russia, as well as the emerging powers of China and India, on the world stage. The Lisbon treaty introduces into the European Union the concept of double majority voting arrangements that, in turn, will make for the more efficient decision-making system that is necessary for the existing worldwide political and economic landscape. The Lisbon treaty will make the EU more democratic by strengthening the role of Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament, both of which are elected by the Irish people.

Ireland, in relative terms, is a small State by international comparisons. The Lisbon treaty is needed to ensure that it can prosper in a more efficient major economic and political bloc that is otherwise unavailable without the ratification of this treaty. Ireland has been a great beneficiary of EU integration and the Union will continue to be of benefit to the State. This treaty is required to provide a more efficient and effective Union for Ireland to participate in.

Cuireadh an díospóireacht ar athló.

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