Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

It is important that we hold this debate. Other speakers have highlighted the importance of putting the treaty to the Irish people and the decision which must be made in the forthcoming referendum. Our constituents are asking many questions on the Lisbon treaty. We should not run away with ourselves in this House because a considerable number or people simply do not understand the treaty. Politicians of all major parties have decided to support the treaty and campaign for its ratification and I will be doing my part in my constituency. However, I give warning to the Government that significant concerns have arisen.

People are wondering whether they should ratify it when they are finding it increasingly difficult to do business in Ireland and Europe. Last Monday, I attended a meeting in Dundrum at which business people and farmers spoke about the paperwork, red tape and other issues they must confront in operating and running their businesses. There is a question being asked and we in this House have a duty to in some simple way explain what we are doing with regard to the treaty. We must remind the people of how we in this country have benefited.

I come from a rural constituency and can remember my first real education on Europe, European agriculture and the benefits joining the EU would have for each and every one of us in this country. It happened in Tralee in 1967 or 1968 when the then Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Mansholt, came to Ireland on a tour and addressed the Macra na Feirme conference in the town. I was told about the benefits we, as young farmers, could expect and I believe we have benefited, although perhaps this did not take the road Mr. Mansholt promised. There was to be an abundance of jobs for farmers and an abundance of people to buy the products, and, while that did not happen, the reality is that Ireland prospered and rural Ireland in particular changed.

On leaving that conference and walking up the street in Tralee, we were confronted by members of Sinn Féin. At that time, they were opposing Europe and running a strong campaign claiming we should not join Europe and should stay as we were. Now, many years later, when Ireland has gone through total change and we are one of the wealthier countries and the envy of Europe and the world, in part because of joining the EU but also because of the way we managed our affairs and economy, the same people are opposing this treaty.

I want to send out a warning that we should not be complacent about the treaty, which it will be difficult to have passed. The reality is that the campaign against it seems more motivated than the campaign for it. While the major political parties have the resources and support it, there are questions among the people with regard to their lives moving forward and changing. We have a duty in this regard. Not alone should we explain what is contained in the treaty but we must also point out how this country has benefited in recent years. These benefits can be outlined in the areas of agriculture, education and infrastructure, including EU funding for roads, which were in a very poor state 15 to 20 years ago. The benefits came because in this institution, Dáil Éireann, all of the political parties were of the view that Europe was good. No matter who was in government, we negotiated hard over long hours to get benefits for Ireland and we achieved good deals on behalf of the Irish people.

With regard to the farming organisations, there seems to be a huge mix-up with regard to the WTO talks and their connection to this treaty. I wonder what Padraig Walshe was saying last Thursday when he addressed the farmers. He has a duty as a leader of the largest farming organisation — I admit I am a member of that organisation — to come out and support this campaign more publicly than he has done. The truth is that the major farming organisations committed themselves at the beginning but they have not gone further because there is a protest in regard to the WTO talks, which is another issue, although it is related to agriculture and a cause of huge fear. If the treaty is not to go down, the major farming organisations must come out clearly in the coming days and ask their members to vote for it.

If we do not vote for this treaty, the other European countries will not look kindly on Ireland. They are looking at us because we are the only country that must have a referendum on the treaty. It has been asked in recent days whether we actually need a referendum and I understand there is a view that we do not need it. I ask the Minister of State to clarify whether the Government asked the view of the Attorney General on this serious matter. We are putting a treaty to the people and whether the Government has obtained the view of the Attorney General is a valid point.

This campaign involves huge money and huge worry. There are major campaigns but we do not seem able to get to the nitty-gritty of the matter. Views were expressed in yesterday's newspapers that we do not need a referendum and I want to know whether we do. Why should we go to the expense of having a referendum and go through weeks of debate if we do not need it? To be fair to the Government representatives — the Ministers, the officials and others who have gone to Europe for any type of negotiations, particularly with regard to this treaty — they did their job to the best of their ability and it could not have been done better. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could clarify this point.

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