Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said, no qualification has been put on acceptance of the decision. Ratification arises from a collective undertaking by the states at the signing of the Lisbon treaty to proceed with instruments of ratification in each state. Each state took on that undertaking. We took on an undertaking, as did other countries.

I make the point that respect is a two-way street. If one wants respect, one must accord it to others who are similarly engaged in a national process. What the Deputy is asking me to do is to say otherwise. The basis on which this ratification is proceeding arises out of a collective undertaking given by the member states at the time the Lisbon treaty was agreed.

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