Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I commend Senator Paschal Donohoe and his colleagues on the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union on the work they have done in the past two months. The sub-committee's report is a valuable analysis of the position in which Ireland finds itself as a result of the rejection of the Lisbon treaty in a referendum. It is clear from the hearings of the sub-committee that there is doubt and uncertainty about this country's relationship with the European Union. This doubt is damaging Ireland's international standing at a time when the economy is in crisis.

The Taoiseach's contribution did not deal with the core issues. His statement that the Treaty of Lisbon requires the agreement of all member states to enter into force is correct, everybody knows that is the case. What was his contribution about other than mentioning four specific issues — the future composition of the Commission, issues related to defence and our tradition of neutrality, social-ethical matters and taxation — which the European Council and European Commission will not have difficulty addressing. We know they will not cause any great problem with binding declarations which can come into a protocol in the next accession treaty. The Taoiseach has not dealt with fact the that if this treaty is to come into effect it must be endorsed by every country. It was not endorsed by this country and cannot be endorsed by a circuitous legal mechanism. The people must be asked the question again and nothing in this report states that or when it will happen. That is the problem for Ireland and Europe. President Sarkozy may say "We need you and you need us". From my movement around the country, I have seen little confidence that the Taoiseach or the Government have the capacity to steer this through so we can continue to be a respected and influential member of the decision-making process of the European Union, which I strongly favour.

I am dismayed that since the referendum, apart from the sub-committee that was established, we have had no discussion on this problem. The Government needs the support of the parties in the House if it is to go back and do this. We are prepared to take things from the Government in respect of what it is doing. We were told we would receive information on other analysis being done on this but there has not been one word other than the hearings of the sub-committee.

I make no bones about it; Fine Gael has always supported the European process and has campaigned and worked for every referendum on European issues. Now, two days before the Taoiseach goes to the European Council to deal with the four issues which the Council will respond favourably to, he must give a response on what he will do. It contacts me every second day looking for a road map from the Irish Government. There is no point making mountains out of something on which it will concede. It is not a concession on its behalf; some of these issues have been dealt with by previous treaties such as the Maastricht treaty.

The Taoiseach travelled the Continent talking to Heads of Government and he has had presentations to the diplomatic corps who talk among themselves and to others, but there has been no discussion here, 48 hours before he travels to Brussels. This discussion would not have taken place had we not raised the matter with the Government.

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