Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

If one votes "No" this time we will lose our commissioner. I will quote from the Council's conclusions which state:

Having carefully noted the concerns of the Irish people as set out by the Taoiseach, the European Council, at its meeting of 11-12 December 2008, agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, a decision would be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, to the effect that the Commission shall continue to include one national of each Member State.

Nothing could be clearer than that and Deputy Ó Snodaigh should not raise false hares on this issue.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh also contends that the Government will put the very same treaty before the people for a second time. The package to be put to the people this year will be different from last year; it will involve the retention of an Irish commissioner, which is a fundamental difference. We should recall that every poster on the lamp posts last time called for a "No" vote to keep the commissioner.

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