Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I am pleased this debate is taking place as it is very important we express our view on what the people said last week. It was a very good exercise in democracy that the referendum was held. It was important that people discussed issues but I am not sure the issues on which they decided were related to the treaty. That is a problem. When I went to Tipperary town with the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, people wanted to discuss everything but the treaty. In two hours, almost nobody asked about the treaty.

Nobody has addressed the way the farmers were led. The Irish Farmers Association was very irresponsible in the way it led its members, and I speak as a member of that organisation. Farmers could not understand why they were told to vote "No" one week and were told some weeks later by Padraig Walshe, president of the IFA, that the treaty was good and that they were to vote "Yes". They did not believe that so they voted "No" in their droves. These people, who were getting huge concessions from Europe, did not understand. The role of the organisation must be called into question. As a farmer, I have benefited hugely from Europe. I have been a farmer from a very young age and I know of the changes that have taken place. It was not the IFA's best day out.

We must address this issue again because people did not vote on it. The morning after the vote people accused us of not giving them the information. We must address that issue and go back to the people at some stage in the future with a clear message on what this is about and not with the bungled message that was given. I hope we get a chance to have a real referendum with proper posters and not the ones with incorrect information which were put up all over the country for very disingenuous reasons.

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