Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

The guarantees secured by the Government helped dispel many of the groundless and unnecessary fears raised by those on the "No" side, in particular the suggestion that voting for the Lisbon treaty would lead to conscription or to the establishment of a European army. The guarantees specifically and effectively addressed that scaremongering, as did the positive and detailed information disseminated by the Minister for Defence in the months leading up to the referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

Ireland's leadership in the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad as well as the ceremonies and events in 2008 arising from the 50th anniversary of this country's first United Nations peacekeeping mission have helped create a positive public image of Ireland's proud record as the provider of military peacekeepers.

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