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

A recent television documentary correctly depicted Seán Lemass as an expansionist who looked to Europe. However, de Valera was no isolationist. He wanted Ireland to join the United Nations and strove hard to ensure that this came to pass. Equally, he laid the groundwork - admittedly the project came to fruition under a different Government - for this country to become a member of the Council of Europe in 1949. We are, therefore, upholding a very fine tradition.

The White Paper that has been published is extremely good. I suggest that we put forward the facts in plain language. Ordinary people do not want to hear turgid, dense language because it means nothing to them. In addition, no one should be the subject of condescension during the forthcoming referendum campaign because people are entitled to their points of view. However, there should be a policy of instant rebuttal from our side. During the previous campaign, some outrageous remark would be made and this would not be rebutted for three or four days.

I wish to highlight the lies being peddled in a monthly newspaper, Alive!, which is handed out, free of charge, at the Catholic churches some of us attend each Sunday. I do not know if this publication is available at Church of Ireland churches. The Minister of State is shaking his head so I presume it is not. Something should be done about this publication because those responsible for it are peddling lies.

Of all the positives we have gained as a result of our membership of the European Union, that relating to education is the most important. As everyone is aware, in the past Irish people, for reasons of missionary zeal and also because, from time to time, they heard the call of distant drums, travelled abroad to proselytise. When they left, they brought with them their ideas and ideals. Through the European Social Fund, young people here were provided with funding which enabled them to attend our wonderful institutes of technology and certain universities and also to pursue courses on the ERASMUS programme. These were the new Europeans who travelled abroad - admittedly with stars in their eyes - to be educated and who returned home to disseminate the knowledge they obtained.

There has been much debate with regard to whether the report of Colm McCarthy's an bord snip nua should be published. I am of the opinion that it should. If it is not published, it will become a potent weapon in the armoury of those who oppose the Lisbon treaty. If we do not publish it, the unspoken will become everyday coinage because no one will be aware of the report's actual contents. The unwritten will prove to be as delicious as forbidden fruit. I do not care what the mandarins at the Department of Foreign Affairs have to say on the matter. If an bord snip nua's report is not published, it will become an albatross around our necks. It should be published in order that people will be made aware of the various options that have been put to the Government. Rather than this being a hindrance, I believe it will prove to be a help.

I look forward to the forthcoming campaign on the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty with relish. I am particularly looking forward to engaging with people on a one-to-one basis. I hope the campaign will succeed. There is no doubt that hard work and honesty will be required from those on all sides.

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