Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The treaty calls for governments to act sensibly. We have paid a price for the recklessness of the previous 14 years. We accept this is not the answer to everything, but it is an attempt to stop the repeat of what has happened. By voting "Yes", we ensure we have a strengthened Europe. By voting "Yes", we ensure we have a message of hope, which Deputy Murphy said we do not have. I will not even go down the road of what Deputy Higgins said this afternoon, because I do not have time for it. Let us stop making the outlandish claims, the hyperbole and feigning indignation and anger. Let us have a debate about what is important for our people for stopping emigration and creating jobs. Let us have a real debate about that. Let us stop this feigning on local radio about being real Irish people. We are all Irish people and we are all proud to be Irish, but let us stop the crying about whatever. Let us stand up and be counted. Let us put the people of Ireland first and the not our little fiefdoms in our constituencies.

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