Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I would like to share time with Deputies Timmins and Creighton. Before the Heads of Government meeting I briefed the European People's Party. Some 14 Prime Ministers were present at that and many will have received a somewhat similar briefing from the Taoiseach at the meeting and over their working lunch. There is a need for the European Union to reaffirm what the European project and process is about and where we see the Union and its citizens ten, 15 or 20 years down the line. Equally, there is clearly a divide in this country. Those in better off areas gave a stronger "Yes" vote than those in other areas. I hope the Taoiseach sets out the structure as to how he will analyse and assimilate the underlying reasons people took the decision they took in all its forms. The Taoiseach has only 12 weeks in which to do this — July, August and September. The meeting will be in mid-October. That structure needs to be clear, comprehensive and thorough so that there is a clear understanding of the issues.

During the campaign this party always supported the European process and concept. The only contact I had with members of Fianna Fáil were on a couple of occasions at the Forum on Europe or Dublin Castle with Deputy Roche and some brief contact with Deputy Martin, except for the appearance at the National College of Ireland with the three party leaders to show our coherence. This is not the way a campaign such as this should have been planned. I mentioned it to the Taoiseach's predecessor. If there is to be a re-run of this in some format the Taoiseach should not expect a blank cheque of support from this party. We will always support the European process but I would like us to be at least kept informed of the analysis, data and what is happening.

The Government has a problem and a number of options are open. Europe can do nothing about this and leave it be, but that is not an option. The Government can put the same question to the people, and that is not an option. The Government can examine alternatives of which there are a number. I mentioned one earlier during Taoiseach's Questions and the Taoiseach might respond by having the Attorney General send me his considered opinion as legal officer to the State as to which elements of the Lisbon treaty require a constitutional referendum in their own right in this country. A number of complications need to be clarified. It might be helpful in that the Government could not just isolate them but deal with them individually so people in Ireland who have had a range of difficulties, instead of having them all lumped together, would understand exactly where they come from.

The Taoiseach mentioned that he would talk to the EU partners on a very close basis. That is important but he should also take into account the support the Lisbon treaty was given by both the Labour Party and Fine Gael. The "No" vote would have been much higher had that not been the case. The feeling from the European People's Party representatives was that they do not want the momentum of European development to be restricted or stopped. There is clearly a danger that if this runs to the European elections, very aggressive people on the right and left of the political spectrum in other European countries wanting to interfere with this may turn the elections into a referendum on Lisbon. That is a dilemma for the Government. We will wait and see what comes from its analysis in October and what alternatives the Government sees ahead and when. Timelines are very important for all our parties here who will contest local and European elections this time next year.

See this speech in context