Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to express my views on the EU reform treaty. I support strongly a vote in its favour in the referendum as I do the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill. It is the Government's desire that the referendum will result in the ratification of the EU reform treaty by the Irish people.

My late father had what he once referred to as "total dedication to Europe" and a desire to see Ireland playing a positive and central role in its affairs. As Minister for Finance in 1967, he published the White Paper on entry to the EEC, as it was then known, and visited several of the EEC capitals with the Taoiseach of the day, Jack Lynch, with a view to facilitating Ireland's membership. While addressing this House in 1967 following the introduction of this White Paper, he stated we were facing a great opportunity not to be missed to "give our people, and especially our young people, access to new horizons" in the stimulating climate of the new Europe. Some of the issues and "new horizons" we will address in the next decade may be different from those envisaged in the 1960s but the aims and aspirations are as relevant today as they were then.

Many of the improvements envisaged by those supporting a "Yes" vote in the 1972 referendum have come to pass, often in spectacular fashion. These include the doubling of our workforce to 2 million, twice what it was before we joined the EU; a marked improvement in national income per head to well above the EU average; and increased trade opportunities through the completion of the Single Market. In 2006 the value of our exports to EU member states was a staggering €87 billion. We are now attracting billions of euro in foreign direct investment which in 1972 was a mere €16 million. We benefit greatly from various EU transfer funds and the stability and protection that membership of the European monetary union provides. There has been support for the farming sector and rural communities through the Common Agricultural Policy. I also strongly believe that our future prosperity lies in Europe and that our nation can continue to play its role as an active, committed member at the centre of its affairs.

The reform treaty is a relatively short but vital piece of legislation for Ireland and for Europe. It incorporates to some degree the substance of the draft treaty agreed during Ireland's EU Presidency in 2004. The treaty aims to increase the roles of the national and European parliaments, to reform decision making within its institutions, to give legal effect to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, to make Europe more effective on the world stage and to prepare Europe for the major challenges which all member states will face, both individually and collectively.

Some of the issues Europe will need to address in the next decade are climate change, the possibility of a global economic downturn, demographic change and immigration, and problems in the developing world. It is in Europe, as part of a grouping of 500 million people, that we can best help address these issues rather than as individual member states. The creation of the post of high representative for foreign affairs will allow a more coherent EU voice in the external aspects of the Union's affairs. It is also through Europe that we will continue to make our own distinctive impact.

The reform treaty proposes changes designed to make the European Union function more democratically and more effectively. Among the new initiatives proposed is the citizens' initiative whereby a petition signed by 1 million citizens from a number of member states may request the Commission to take a specific initiative. There will also be a new full-time elected president of the European Council who will chair and take forward the work of the European Council. There is also provision for a new voting system which means that 55% of member states representing 65% of the EU's population must support a measure before it is carried.

It is true that both the European Commission and Parliament will be capped. However, capping is considered necessary to ensure that they do not become too large or unwieldy to be effective. In effect the original institutions, designed for a founding community of six member states, have operated for 50 years without rudimentary reform, but also, it might be stressed, without losing any of the 27 member states in the interim. The introduction of the enhanced role for the Houses of the Oireachtas is a further positive development. The national parliaments are given an enhanced role in evaluation of measures in a number of areas, which parliamentarians must surely welcome.

It must be recognised, however, that not everyone is in favour of this treaty. This is nothing new and has been the case during previous referenda. To listen to some detractors it might appear that the Irish had, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, recently said, somehow "abandoned their good sense and their national interests during the negotiations". It did not, and will not happen. Any fair assessment of the treaty must recognise that the changes envisaged are for the better, reflecting the changing circumstances in which the Union finds itself.

Ireland's place lies at the heart of Europe. Ireland has been a major beneficiary as a member state over the past 35 years. Ratification of the reform treaty will continue to see Ireland play its role at the centre of European affairs. For these reasons I am urging people to vote "Yes" in the forthcoming referendum and to continue the central role of our nation at the heart of Europe. I firmly believe this treaty is in the best interests of the people and demonstrates our desire to continue to be a committed member of the European Union.

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