Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. When Ireland joined the European Union in 1973, it was a much poorer State than is the case at present. I was born in 1973 and when one considers the progress that has been made since then in business, employment, education, infrastructure or whatever, many of the benefits have flowed from Ireland's membership of the European Union. It is sad that some who are involved in politics and some political parties are willing to vote against the Lisbon treaty, which can only be of benefit to Ireland. The number of jobs, companies and dynamic young people that have come to Ireland through the openness arising from the European Union, in the past ten years in particular, have been unbelievable.

While Ireland is a small country, it is highly respected in the European context. Other countries have double or triple our population but our small island is well respected in Europe. Fine Gael is a highly-respected member of the largest European political grouping, the European People's Party, and Ireland is fortunate to have the leader of the Fine Gael Party serve as its vice president. Fine Gael has a proud tradition of supporting Ireland's involvement in European affairs. As a party, it always has put the country and its position in Europe first and this is the reason it seeks a "Yes" vote on this occasion. Fine Gael will not use the opportunity to oppose the Government and asks people to vote "Yes". They should vote on the issue before them, rather than voting "No" because they consider it to be correct to vote against the Government. People who wish to criticise the Government should wait until the local and European elections.

In recent months, Fine Gael has been highly active in promoting the Lisbon treaty. Last week, I was disappointed to hear that the Leader of the Seanad, Senator Donie Cassidy, criticised the Fine Gael Party, and other parties, and asserted that his was the only party that was doing anything for the promotion of the Lisbon treaty. Had Senator Cassidy been reading his local newspapers or the national newspapers or following Dáil debates, he would have been made aware of the degree to which the Fine Gael party is active in this respect.

Fine Gael recently held a treaty meeting in Wexford that attracted a huge attendance of non-political people who came simply to acquire information on the treaty. It was highly interesting to hear such people's viewpoints on the treaty as they were there to get information on it rather than to criticise it. They attended to establish whether to vote "Yes" or "No". Speaking to the wider audience after that public meeting, I noted their belief in the positive aspects of the treaty had been reaffirmed. The misleading "No" campaign raises issues such as neutrality, taxation and abortion. This is unbelievable and I fail to understand from where they get the arguments.

The real purpose of this treaty is to provide for the enlargement of the EU, as well as to improve the workings and efficiency of the Union. Hopefully, following the passage of this treaty, the proper structures will be put in place to make a far better European Union in which to be involved and Ireland will benefit tremendously in that regard. People's positive attitudes towards Europe also are very welcome. It is brilliant to observe younger voters becoming involved in the treaty and wondering what is happening.

While Sinn Féin, Libertas and others assert that Ireland will lose its EU Commissioner, they should study the job prospectus of a Commissioner. Ireland is fortunate to have a fine man like Charlie McCreevy serve as its EU Commissioner. However, the "No" campaign should be aware that Charlie McCreevy does not work in Europe for the betterment of Ireland. He works for the betterment of the projects in Europe with which he is involved and he takes the wider Europe into consideration. It is not his job to wear an Irish hat and fight on our behalf. His job is to work within the European Union with different countries for the Union's betterment. Irrespective of our size and whether we have a Commissioner, we will still enjoy the same rights as at present and will not lose such rights. It is strange to assert that the loss of a Commissioner would cause the entire European Union to collapse or that Ireland would collapse because it was not going to have a Commissioner or that it would lose a degree of influence.

As for taxation, the "No" vote claims that were the treaty to be passed, odd taxation systems would be introduced. However, this will not happen. I refer to the lack of education displayed by the "No" campaign when neutrality is being discussed. The triple lock ensures our neutrality and the "No" campaign should study and understand this point.

I hope the Lisbon treaty will be passed and that in the coming years, the European Union will become far stronger and far better, both for itself and for Ireland. When one recalls the benefits that have accrued to Ireland in recent years, I ask the Irish people to look into their hearts, consider the purpose of the treaty and educate themselves on it. Were they to do so, they undoubtedly would vote "Yes".

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