Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The citizens' initiative must be made simple. It appears to me that it will be difficult for it to achieve a simple measure. I am glad to see the Minister intends to work on it.

Many objections to the Lisbon treaty were legitimate and based on real concerns. Others were based on misconceptions about neutrality, social and ethical issues and loss of control. Those arguments have been made over the past 35 years. They have not come to fruition and never will. It is easy to play on the public's emotional fears. I listened to Senator Ronan Mullen this morning as he pointed the finger at the "Yes" campaign as well as at the "No" campaign. There may be some truth in what he said. Some concepts were difficult to sell. Enhancing the role of national parliaments is one of the main measures of the Bill. The public climate for enhancing the role of national parliaments is not favourable and that was not a strong selling point. Many people want to pull down the national parliament, they are so annoyed at how things have gone.

See this speech in context