Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Taking what the Taoiseach has said, the other course of action that is expected by more than 50% of those who voted on the Lisbon treaty is that the Taoiseach would embark on a proactive exploration of the potential to form new alliances demanding a new negotiated deal. No efforts have been employed in this respect and there is no evidence the Taoiseach has given serious consideration to that particular need. Does the Taoiseach not accept — this is reflected in the commentary in various periodicals and newspapers — that the Irish people feel more and more that the electorate is being sidelined until after the December summit, when a situation will be bounced upon them coming into the new year? Will the Taoiseach accept there is a bounden responsibility on him to accept the democratically expressed wish of the Irish electorate regarding the Lisbon treaty, to make it clear to the other member states of the European Union that the Lisbon treaty is over and done with and that there is a responsibility to address what matters must be addressed in terms of reform within the European Union and how it manages its affairs?

This requires new address and a new approach, taking on board all of the concerns expressed by the Irish electorate, views which have been and continue to be articulated by the citizens of member states throughout the European Union. I put it to the Taoiseach in terms of his responsibility that he has failed the electorate by not following through on its decision. It is not too late to make a firm stand and to make it patently clear rather than the equivocation which is at present but an invitation to all of those who regard the electorate's decision, their democratically expressed voice, as the wrong answer. It was not the wrong answer. It is the people's answer and, therefore, it is the right answer.

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