Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for his presentation. He mentioned ambitious climate change targets for the Copenhagen meeting at the end of the year. Public debate has recently raised certain questions about this following the global and European economic crisis. I am not sure that there is the same level of commitment across the European Union to delivering on these targets as previously. There is a fear that we may compromise competitiveness and opportunities in the global market and job creation to achieve the targets. We must address this because the green economy offers a great opportunity for job creation. There is an onus on us to communicate that to the public and I hope the Government will take this up with gusto before the Copenhagen meeting.

I commend the work of the Government in achieving the guarantees in the Lisbon treaty. We have all participated in this over the past 12 months through the work of the Oireachtas Sub-committee on the Future of Europe and Deputy Kenny's commitment to achieving those guarantees to assuage the fears people had during the last referendum campaign. While it was expected that we would achieve legal guarantees, not everyone was confident that we would achieve a commitment to the protocols. That will make our job much easier. I am glad that agreement has been achieved. Well done to the Taoiseach and his officials on achieving that commitment.

The key issues in the last Lisbon referendum campaign, workers' rights, concerns about neutrality and defence, some a bit fallacious, some legitimate, and concerns about taxation, have been put to bed. People who are genuinely concerned and opposed the treaty on the last occasion are coming around and believe that there is something in it for them. They feel that some of their fears have been allayed which is positive.

I urge the Government to avoid getting into a wrangling match with the "No" campaigners about falsehoods and misleading arguments because we risk falling into that trap. We must focus on what Lisbon will do for Ireland and Europe because it has so many benefits. It is not the most exciting treaty because it does not have any major issue on which we can hang our hats, but there is a multitude of reasons that it is so important. It will enable the European Parliament, Commission and Council to deliver for the people of Europe. It will make Europe more transparent. People think that Council meetings happen behind closed doors, that a great deal of diplomacy goes on and nobody knows what is happening, or why, or how it benefits them.

Under the terms of the Lisbon treaty the meetings will be open. We need to lay emphasis on this because in the past the naysayers completely erroneously claimed that the Lisbon treaty will make the EU less accountable when the opposite is the case; it will make the European Union more accountable and more responsive to their needs as was outlined by Deputy Kenny. It is crucial that we highlight the fact that the Lisbon treaty will make Europe more powerful and influential on the world stage and if we are to achieve our goals on climate change, energy security and economic recovery we must ensure that it is passed.

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