Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, for generously sharing time. I heartily endorse the holding of a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty, particularly in light of the guarantees obtained through the brilliant strategic and diplomatic skills of the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the officials of their Departments. There is no doubt that the win-win agreement with which they returned from Europe represents a masterstroke. Anyone who believes that we should fly in the face of that agreement is very foolish indeed.

I wish to compliment President Sarkozy of France, who travelled to Ireland immediately after the defeat of the previous referendum on the Lisbon treaty. He was warm and supportive and met everyone while he was here. I have no way of knowing for sure but I believe that he was responsible for developing matters relating to Ireland when he returned to France.

The Minister of State referred to de Valera and Lemass. I jotted down points that are extremely similar to those he made. However, the Minister of State and I did not speak about the matter until we entered the Chamber this evening.

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