Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I take the point made by Deputy Gilmore. If that is the case, there is a responsibility on such groups not just to present a document, to wish us the best of luck negotiating it and to retain a reserve position to oppose it if 80% of the document is not achieved but rather to use their influence to keep Ireland at the heart of the Union. That is the objective of the Government.

At the beginning of the week I said that it was far too premature to talk about options for referendums. We must undertake proper analysis and engage with our European colleagues to see what we can do to keep Ireland at the heart of the EU. If everyone in the House is agreed on this, we must put our thinking caps on and engage with those over whom they have influence. We can provide people with analysis of the parliamentary debates in European states. In France the communists said "Bravo Irlande". In Britain there was the United Kingdom Independence Party, in France there was Jean-Marie Le Pen and all over Europe, those on the far right and far left were overjoyed at the Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty. I accept there were people in between but it is revealing to see the political background of those who are exulting the most because Ireland voted "No". There is a responsibility on everyone to ensure Ireland can stay at the heart of the Union.

Deputy Gilmore raises an interesting point that the bottom line is that the Nice treaty is pressing. This was clarified at the GAERC meeting. People talk about the urgent need to retain a Commissioner. If the Lisbon treaty had been ratified we would have a full Commissioner up to 2014. The Nice treaty which is in operation at present, provides for a reduction in the Commission once the Union has 27 member states, which it now has. It stipulates that the reduced number will be introduced on the basis of strict equal rotation between member states to come into effect on 1 November 2009. This is exercising our minds and those of our European colleagues. It is a real and immediate issue. We face the immediate prospect of losing a Commissioner in November 2009 as opposed to from 2014 onwards under the Lisbon treaty.

We are not affected in terms of the European Parliament because we were to be allocated 12 seats under the Lisbon treaty and the Nice treaty provided for Ireland to have 12 seats from 2009. We have 13 at present because a temporary increase was permitted when Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union. In many respects, although many European states and parliamentarians would prefer the European Parliament elections to be held under the terms of the Lisbon treaty, the Commission proposal is a real one. I know it must have unanimity but it is legal. It is what people voted for. I am sure people will not state that ultimately we should defy the wishes of the people who voted on the Nice treaty. One cannot have it both ways.

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