Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

If he negotiated it, he did not read it. The fact that he negotiated a document which he did not even read is scandalous and an even bigger indictment of him. It is all coming out clearly now. Massive public meetings were held in France with thousands of people in attendance. Following the French and Dutch rejection of the constitution, recriminations were rife. A two-speed Europe was threatened and voters from both states were castigated. Despite this, the French called a halt to the ratification process and a much touted period of reflection was supposed to begin.

The fact is that a period of reflection did not take place. Cosmetic engagements between the EU institutions and civic society took place while EU leaders and faceless bureaucrats began a deeply dishonest process of stripping out all constitutional reference within the text and then produced the Lisbon treaty. Understanding the massive opposition throughout Europe to what this treaty sought to achieve, EU leaders concocted a way of avoiding putting this maligned document to the public in plebiscites.

By the time the Lisbon treaty was signed off on by European leaders and at the end of last year, the substance of the EU constitution remained intact, something which the previous Taoiseach admitted in this House, while democracy and consent did not. Thankfully, in Ireland, we have a voice thanks to one brave individual, Raymond Crotty, who took on the political establishment that would prefer us to be quiet and do as we are told regardless of the cost to Europe, Ireland and the wider world. He forced successive Governments to put treaty changes to the people in referenda for which I congratulate him. It is a pity he is not with us today to stand over and see his achievement.

It is 2005 all over again with EU leaders reacting with angry surprise because the people have spoken and dared to have a different vision for Europe than that of the Union's political leadership. Last Thursday's Council meeting hailed the loudest contradiction to date. The best example came from Angela Merkel who was clad in her solitary green jacket but was firm in her resolve that the treaty must go on. Reassurances that the Irish vote would be respected were qualified with threats of Irish isolation, a two-speed Europe and legal manoeuvres to allow the treaty to be implemented without Ireland's consent. This and the words last week are a reflection of the respect some EU leaders have for the rules of the EU as a whole.

The Taoiseach made his whimpering excuses on behalf of the Irish people, got shoved out to the edge of the class for the group photograph and slunk back home to continue his barrage of insults against over 53% of the electorate who voted against the treaty whom his party has now likened to the reprehensible Jean-Marie Le Pen.

What the Taoiseach should have done last Thursday——

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