Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

While the debate on the Lisbon treaty has been complicated by the "no" campaign, it is a straightforward matter. As a nation, we must decide whether Europe has been and will continue to be good for us. The Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, referred to how the EU process emerged from a desire for peace and to bring nations together, after which it evolved into an economic force. Since joining the then EEC in 1973, we have received €60 billion and returned €20 billion, a sign that we have prospered. Many of the infrastructural projects that contributed handsomely to the Celtic tiger would not have proceeded without funding from Europe.

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