Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Last week in the Dáil the Taoiseach told us that it was his intention always to be honest and straight with the Irish electorate. I would not question the Taoiseach's honesty but how straight is he being with us in this House and with the electorate? Last week he had ample opportunity to indicate to us his intentions regarding a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Today he has again had the opportunity and yet we read over the course of the weekend that it is the intention of the Government to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty in 2009. Will the Taoiseach comment on those press reports and tell us exactly what status he attributes to them? How accurate are they? It is important that we know exactly the situation. How straight is the Taoiseach with the electorate when so far he has clearly failed to accept the verdict of the people in respect of the Lisbon treaty during the earlier stage of this year? He will differ strongly from what I have to say.

Will the Taoiseach accept that it is of great concern to the people that they have exercised their democratic right and have expressed their will in the course of a properly constituted referendum? They have given their answer. The Irish electorate expects the Taoiseach and Government to represent its views in Europe and not to kowtow to what is clearly a bullying exercise on the part of other parliamentary interests across the European Union. The Taoiseach will reject this terminology but can he outline to us what steps he has taken to address the critical issues that were identified during the course of the referendum, namely, sovereignty, neutrality, workers' rights, protection of public services, etc.? What steps has he taken to seek to re-negotiate a treaty that will address all those core concerns of the people? These include a social progress clause for workers, strengthening of key vetoes in public services, taxation and international trade, the securing of the removal of the self-amending clauses including Article 48 and the retention of Ireland's permanent Commissioner. Would the Taoiseach agree that these are the actions, utterances and commitments that the electorate, having clearly spoken during the course of a protracted Lisbon referendum campaign earlier this year, now expects of its Taoiseach and Government? Does he accept that there is no evidence that he has in any way lived up to those expectations and that there is a clear and ever growing frustration, not only on the part of those who voted "No" to Lisbon but also among many who voted "Yes" and are looking on in incredulity at their Government's failure to respect democratic wishes?

My party asked the following question of the Taoiseach's predecessor regarding the Nice treaty and perhaps the Taoiseach will avail of the opportunity to make his position clear on the matter. If he is proposing to have a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty, will he let us have a "best of three"?

See this speech in context