Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I take this opportunity to wish the outgoing Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Gallagher, well in his retirement. He has given a full life to public service and I wish him well. I hope he can find time in the days ahead to spend floating around regions of the upper Shannon. I wish his successor, Mr. Cooney, well.

Coming to the end of the French Presidency of the EU, the Taoiseach mentioned the role played by President Sarkozy. The French President got much flak in certain quarters in this country at the end of June last, but one must acknowledge the tremendous role he played in taking on board the concerns of the Irish people and the Irish Government. He ensured, through his vigour and enthusiasm, that the EU responded in a positive manner to the needs of Ireland. The way he dealt with the crisis in Georgia, and the tremendous role that Europe played in it, his dealing with the international financial crisis and his efforts to get a global approach to financial difficulties epitomised for me the need for a full-time president of the European Union based on the two and a half year concept. That, to me, is one of the most essential ingredients required, as is outlined in the Lisbon treaty.

I also welcome the steps taken by Government to get undertakings on measures. One must acknowledge that from our point of view in the main, with the exception of the Commissioner, all of these were dealt with in the treaty. However, there was a lack of certainty among people. There were concerns and it is important those concerns have been addressed.

The EU is probably the most democratic political concept on the planet. I must admit it is much more democratic than we are here in this country where the Opposition gets generally only crumbs from Government, irrespective of who is in Government, and we are not blaming the Minister, Deputy Martin, exclusively for that. In the EU, everyone has a say, views are taken on board and compromises are made, notwithstanding the fact that many countries do not agree with the provision of a Commissioner for every member state because they feel that it will impinge upon efficiency.

I note from the "No" side of the campaign that the argument has moved on a little. The treaty contains so many matters that there are many new claims, and many new battles will be fought over the months ahead on new territory. It is important we do not lose sight of the treaty's tremendous advantages.

The Lisbon treaty is not meant to replace what is there. It is not something new coming in for something old or unworkable. It enhances what is already there. It is an improvement on what is already there. The practitioners who operate on a day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year basis feel the need for it. I cannot come around to the concept that there is a conspiracy by 26 or 27 governments to make life difficult for their people or for their administrators. We must bear in mind that the concept of this is for the common good.

I look at the many positive things it can do. It can deal with cross-border crime, and I hope that we can see it in our wisdom to opt in on judicial and home affairs. It can deal with the energy crisis. We are here at the periphery of Europe, at the end of the pipe. Where would we stand trying to create an energy security policy on our own? It would not be possible.

Ireland is the gateway to Europe. We projected ourselves as the young Europeans for decades. Europe has been very positive for us. Jobs are an issue with respect to Europe. I heard some of the "No" campaigners talk about scare tactics and I thought it was a little rich of them. Certainly, Ireland being at the heart of Europe is essential for our foreign direct investment needs and the "No" to the Lisbon treaty sent out a negative message. The message is not that tangible at present but, as some of the contributors to the sub-committee mentioned, by the time it becomes tangible it will be too late.

The Taoiseach mentioned earlier the issue of workers' rights. It is important the legislation that is necessary here on home territory to deal with workers' rights issues should be put in place in the first half of next year.

On the treaty, this morning I read bits of an extract from a speech by Mr. Gay Byrne. In the last campaign there was the great slogan, "If you don't know, vote No". In my view, if you do not know, you try to learn and find out about it. If you do not find out about it, do not go and impinge upon other people who have taken the time to go and find out about something and make an informed decision. I am not picking on Mr. Byrne specifically, but I will use him as the figurehead for many of the people in that campaign. He stated, "I agree with Ulick McEvaddy that the entire thing is unintelligible bilge". If I adopted the same approach to the transport legislation on road safety as Mr. Byrne has done on this occasion, I would be saying to the public that if they had a vote on this legislation, do not pass it because they will not understand it. That approach is too simplistic. It is too serious a matter for opinion makers to adopt that approach. One goes out and informs oneself of the rights or wrongs. One does not need to know every comma and full-stop in the treaty but the information is freely available even if knowledge and interest is more limited.

I challenge opinion makers to study the material before they make an informed decision and, if they then discover an ideological difficulty with the text, people will respect them for it. They should not take the simplistic view that it is in vogue to vote "No" if one does not know. In regard to the idea of signing a contract on a house, I do not know how many people have read their mortgage contracts. I have not read them even though I have bought more than one house in my time. I signed my name and accepted my solicitor's advice that matters were in order.

Mr. Byrne wrote: "One other thing I'll guarantee: within six months of Ireland voting "Yes", our special corporate tax rate will be gone". The untruth of that statement will be copperfastened by a protocol following the commitment received by the Government on taxation. If Mr. Byrne and other commentators intend to participate in a national debate, they should at least afford the public the courtesy of learning the issues before they pass pronouncement. Their views will be respected even by those who disagree with their judgment if they are based on informed knowledge.

Senator Donohoe has produced a report on the findings of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union which is available on the Internet for free or the Government publications sales office for €4.10. Efforts are also being made to circulate copies of the report to libraries. It will not be the most exciting read this Christmas but it will probably be one of the most important. A recent "The Gerry Ryan Show" included a segment in which information was sought on the report. The programme was contacted shortly after this segment aired but a decision was made not to inform viewers on the report's availability. Anyone who wants a copy of the report could obtain one from the Government, Fine Gael or the Labour Party.

As this is probably the most serious issue we will decide in a referendum for a generation, people should inform themselves. If they make their decision on an informed basis, nobody can argue with them, but they should not vote "No" because they claim not to know. That is a simplistic and irresponsible approach. This is not the opinion of a Europhile or a member of an unelected elite lecturing to "No" people; it is basic common sense.

See this speech in context