Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for clarifying the issue. Having read the treaty, my understanding is that under Article 1.56, amending Article 48, the ordinary revision procedure must be "...ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements". I also understand that under the simplified revision procedures, a decision "shall not enter into force until it is approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements". It is extremely important to place that on the record of the House and that there is absolutely no room for confusion on the matter.

I ask the Minister of State to confirm that this is the situation and that it is not changed by the Lisbon treaty in any sense. I refer to the Minister of State's assertion that ratification will be by referendum or by Government decision, according to the advice of the Attorney General, and that will continue to be the case under the Lisbon treaty.

I ask the Minister to confirm, in the interests of the people of Ireland who will be voting on this issue, that the claim on the website of the Libertas organisation that this will be the last say on Europe for a generation for Irish people is incorrect. Libertas also claims that there will be no need for the EU ever again to consult the Irish people, although I would respectfully suggest that it is the Government that consults the Irish people and not the EU. I ask the Minister to clarify the position in that regard.

I also ask the Minister of State to address the allegation that Article 48 is a devious, self-amending clause that allows the European political elite to avoid the necessity for further referenda. It is important that the Minister of State clarifies that this is not the case. It is essential that we, as elected representatives, provide a very clear statement on this for the people of Ireland.

I note that comments made by the Minister of State on this matter have been distorted by the media. Press statements have been issued by a certain organisation on the matter and an article by a Member of the European Parliament was published in The Irish Times two days ago. These are clearly misleading the people and it is important that we clarify matters on the record of the House.

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