Tom Barry (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. First, we must keep it simple. The treaty, in effect, is about reality and common sense. It is critical that everyone should sell the treaty by expounding on its virtues. The treaty is about sensible financial governance, removing doubt and putting certainty at the heart of all we do.

I am surprised when I hear so many speakers today advocating a reckless attitude towards business. I have been involved in business for 20 years. It upsets me when I hear people talk about business as if they know what they are talking about when they do not. It is one thing to set up a business but to keep it going is another, especially through these austere times. However, we are doing it. Europe has been good to us in many respects, including giving equal rights on pay to women and on many other issues. However, we seem to forget the good Europe has done for us. The Government was elected to make hard decisions. We must do so because we are in a financial quagmire. At least the ship is on a stable course at the moment.

Each business must fulfil seven criteria. The first is potential. Other criteria include a business plan, reality, future budgeting and stability. When all the criteria are in place there is hope for a business to move forward. No successful business person will vote against the treaty because it is instrumental for the future of their business and for their employees, who form a critical element.

The treaty will safeguard against reckless administrations, which we have seen, and future potential for a recurrence of such a situation. Many previous administrations acted from self-gain or perhaps in some cases through ineptitude. Perhaps they simply wanted to buy votes. I hope the treaty will bring an end to such an approach. There is a requirement to balance our books in the same way as every business. The Government has introduced the Credit Guarantee Bill to provide partial guarantees for credit and the microfinance Bill. We are doing what we can but it is essential that the referendum is passed in order for us to move forward.

Politics is changing. We have people on the left who are reckless. I say that as a business person. I do not like what happened in the context of the household charge. Such people did not recognise democracy and they were intimidating in their attitude towards others. This time around we will be a little harder in our attitude and we will not be bullied or intimidated. It will not be a case of their stamping their view on everyone else for their gain.

Let us make the treaty simple for all those involved in business because it will cost jobs if it does not get passed. Europe and this country are a base for many American companies. A total of 200,000 people are employed directly by them and a further 400,000 are employed upstream and downstream of them. They want to be confident that this country is part of Europe and is moving forward with Europe. A "No" vote would also mean that interest rates would increase. Bond interest rates would increase and that would have a knock-on effect on the cost to business.

The key challenge to small businesses such as mine and to other businesses is access to finance and the cost of it if one can get it. We need growth to emerge from the deficit in terms of day-to-day spending. The treaty will help farming, IT, SMEs and all types of businesses. They will all be affected. The treaty is critical for this country and its people. I challenge anyone who suggests that the treaty will not affect business. It is easy to speak when does not have to worry about how to pay one's staff for the following week. It is also easy to criticise the treaty when one does not have to pay all the costs involved in business. This country can become much more competitive, but that is a challenge for another day. Without the treaty being accepted, we will hinder our progress. We will have no safety net and it will cause an impediment with which we do not need to deal.

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