Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Gilmore in his absence from the Chamber because he, like myself, shares a passion for where we find ourselves over the next nine days. The outcome of the European Council held in Brussels on 18-19 June was a considerable success for Ireland. We achieved all of our pre-summit goals, including the permanent retention of an EU Commissioner for Ireland and a set of legally binding guarantees on the right to life, family and education, taxation, security and defence. The legal guarantees will later be attached to the EU treaties as a protocol at which stage they will enjoy full treaty status. In the interim they will be lodged with the United Nations.

On foot of the decisions taken at the June European Council, the Government agreed to propose a constitutional amendment so as to permit the State to ratify the Lisbon treaty. The wording of the amendment is contained in the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009. This Bill was approved by an overwhelming majority in both Houses of the Oireachtas on 9 July. On the same date, a statement for the information of voters, which includes the wording of the amendment, was agreed by the Oireachtas. It is being sent to each voter in advance of the referendum.

In the event that the people vote to approve the treaty, I anticipate further legislation will be required in two areas. As with all previous amendments of the EU treaties, the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2007 will need to be amended to give effect to the Lisbon treaty in domestic law. The European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002 will also need to be updated to take account of the new treaty.

The Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 was published on 6 September and has an important role to play. If the referendum is successful, it is intended to enact this Bill. It has two main purposes: to enhance Oireachtas control of the State's participation in EDA projects and programmes and to make participation by the State in permanent structured co-operation under the Lisbon treaty subject to Dáil approval. Both of these Bills are contingent on the outcome of the referendum.

As a result of the positive outcome to the June European Council, the issues about which concerns were raised last year have all been satisfactorily addressed. This means that the Lisbon treaty will this year be a very different proposition for Ireland in that it comes with substantive additional guarantees. This new package provides an excellent basis for consulting the people and seeking their approval for the ratification of the treaty. This is a positive step we can take on the road to economic recovery which is why ratification is supported not just by the main political parties but by Irish businesses, Irish trade unions and Irish farming bodies.

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