Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I support the remarks of Deputy Jim O'Keeffe. The referendum presents an interesting opportunity to the people. I welcome the fact that we have a second chance but I hope we do not always need to seek second chances regarding issues of this nature. We had a second chance in respect of the Nice treaty. We are and should be grateful to our EU colleagues for entertaining us for the second time and for encouraging us and giving us the support we need at present. We should be particularly grateful for the guarantees to which our EU colleagues agreed regarding the concerns expressed by the Irish at the last referendum.

We must now dispense with complicated Euro-speak and simplify the debate. It is simply a question of asking the people whether we want to be at the centre of decision making in the EU scene, whether we were happy with where we were, whether we have progressed well since 1973 or whether we would be better outside the Union, as proposed by some. Some say they are pro-European but contend the Union that will prevail in the aftermath of the ratification of the treaty is not the kind they want. When questioned, they call for a more democratic Union. To that I say Ireland has done well as a member of the Union and has been influential. It has been influential because it has been at the centre of the decision-making process. In any organisation, it is better to be at the centre making decisions and amending them where necessary than to be outside the centre circle expecting others to make the decisions, which decisions could exclude one's views altogether.

The opportunity we have is unique and welcome. We must proceed positively and address the issues that have been of concern. They have been addressed already by the guarantees given by our EU colleagues. I congratulate the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, and the Minster of State, Deputy Roche, on their work in this area.

We must dispel the myth that prevailed during the last referendum campaign that led people to say, "They are out to get us and there are secret agendas." We must dispel the view that if one is in doubt, one should vote "No". On this occasion there is no doubt about where our interests lie; we should, therefore, vote "Yes". Our interests lie in the European market, to which we have had access for some years. We have prospered in that market and are no longer dependent on a market for goods and services involving only our next door neighbour. We have done extremely well and we must continue to proceed in this way.

I was alarmed after the last referendum when I saw people who purported to be representatives of the Irish proceed to Whitehall to be congratulated by Eurosceptics. They said a great deal had been done for Ireland and that Ireland's interests had been well served by the outcome of that referendum. What an extraordinary statement and what extraordinary circumstances. People who had from the very beginning opposed the European project and who were well-known Eurosceptics whose only agenda was to undermine the Union, Ireland's position therein and the interests of the Irish proclaimed the "No" vote was a great victim for democracy. I reject this, as do many other Members of the House. We know where we stand now. We have been proud Europeans and Europe has benefited from our existence because we have been a positive influence within the European Union and will continue so to be, provided that our vision is clear.

Several people have mentioned the McKenna judgment and how a campaign will progress. The majority of the 166 Members of this House are in favour of the Lisbon treaty and when it comes to equal treatment in broadcasting and access to the media to promote this case, notwithstanding the McKenna judgment, all broadcasters are obliged to recognise proportionally the majority view of the Members. There must be some degree of integrity in what we have to say, and it is necessary to recognise our views, and that we are thinking and working in the national interest because we could not all be wrong. The cynics have suggested that if all the politicians were in favour of the treaty only those against could be right. What an appalling statement. That is a ridiculous attitude. It undermines confidence in the institutions of the State and of the European Union. We should know better. We should have learned very well and taught others and given them the benefit of our experience within the European Union.

We need to call on the Members of this and the other House to do their utmost to ensure that we achieve success this time. We must appeal to the business community, the trade unions, the farmers and everybody who has an interest in the well-being of our economy, our people and in the independence of our nation within the Union. We must work vigorously towards that end.

A series of issues was raised surreptitiously during the last campaign, most of which had no basis in truth or fact and were merely put forward by those who claim to be pro-Europe but had voted against the European project on every occasion since and including 1973. It stretches the imagination that people should say they are in favour of Europe but not this kind of Europe. What kind of Europe do they want and is it in the national interest? It is not. We must stand up and be counted. We must assert ourselves and show the people of Europe that we are serious about membership of the European Union and the progress of the European project and we want to be at the centre of the decision-making process where we can count.

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