Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

They do not wish to re-ratify or renegotiate the treaty. We can decide not to ratify the treaty if we wish. The consequences which flow from it will affect our interests. Any suggestion to the contrary is naive in the extreme. It is my job as leader of the country to go to the people and institutions and discuss those issues which were of concern to us to see in what way they can assist us in bringing greater clarity to those issues and to come back to this House to debate them. In due course the Government and this House will decide what they wish to do about it. The idea that there are 26 member states, even using Deputy Ó Caoláin's great persuasive powers, all set to take on his view of Europe is naive in the extreme.

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