Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

It pains me to say it but I must. There was an opportunity to have a go at them during the local and European elections and other opportunities to do so will arise. This is not the time to have a go at the Government, irrespective of the damage it has done, and we should put our country first by ratifying the treaty.

I nail my colours to the mast and say "Yes" to Lisbon and "No" to Iceland. I am a committed European and say "Yes" to Lisbon because I am absolutely convinced it is in the interest of our country to accept the treaty. It will be a disaster if we do not. When I say "No" to Iceland, I am not saying "No" to a little country that is now in the throes of a deep recession but to the factors that resulted in the dreadful condition it is now in. It is in this condition because it is outside the Union and does not have the kinds of supports we have to compensate for some of the disasters visited on the country, in our case by our Government. We have the full support of the Union and Iceland does not. Iceland now wants to join the Union and must be encouraged to do so. Its people have now recognised the benefit of having the support of the Union and of becoming fully committed Europeans.

The Lisbon treaty is very important. The changes it proposes are not considerable but it makes the Union more democratically accountable. This is clear from many points of view. If ratified, it will lead to a more transparent and efficient Union. The rights in the charter will be justiciable, and legally binding force will be given to the values and freedoms contained therein. The Union will have a much stronger role as an actor on the world stage.

The issue of the Commissioner has been dealt with. If Ireland wants to retain its Commissioner, it should vote in favour of the treaty. The Union clearly reflects the views and values of the Irish people.

The subjects under discussion are not new and are not being included in the treaty for the first time. The Council has clarified and copper-fastened absolutely the issues raised during the last referendum in respect of tax rates, neutrality and the protection of the right to life under our Constitution. Let us, therefore, agree to the treaty.

When I hear people questioning how democratic it is to return to the people with the treaty, I contend it is correct to do so given our new circumstances. Ireland is one of 27 member states and every one apart from Ireland has ratified it; there might be one exception in respect of which there are a few minor questions to be dealt with. That is democracy to me.

In the coming months, we must have an honest debate on the content of the treaty and not circulate fairy tales about matters that are not in it. Above all, let us not be led by the UK media in Ireland, particularly by Mr. Rupert Murdoch.

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