Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Referendum day, 31 May, will be an important and defining day for the country, our future relationship with the European Union and the future of the euro. In the past 12 months the Government has worked hard to repair our international credibility and has succeeded. There is renewed optimism about Ireland and international investor confidence is starting to return. The number of foreign direct investment projects was up 20% last year; job announcements such as those made by PayPal, Mylan and Apple are testament to the increased confidence in Ireland and the prospects for future projects coming here are positive. If the economy continues to stabilise, we must work with our EU partners to put in place the mechanisms needed to ensure economic stability throughout the eurozone.

We are an island nation on the edge of Europe and must learn from the lessons of the past and the events of recent years. We cannot stick our heads in the sand, as some opposition Deputies would like us to do, and ignore the influence of international factors, including international market sentiment, on our economic stability.

Opponents of the treaty claim it will not fix the eurozone crisis or the economy. I take issue with these misinformed comments. The treaty is an essential element of the road map out of the crisis. It is an important part of the package needed to stabilise economic conditions in Europe because it provides assurances that the problems that emerged in Greece cannot be repeated.

When the people go to the polls on 31 May, I ask them to reflect on the role of the incompetence shown. Light touch regulation and the lack of corporate enforcement brought the country to its knees. I am conscious of the difficulties many ordinary people have to endure because of the sins of the past. However, the treaty presents an opportunity for the people to draw a line under the events of the past by putting in place the structures and procedures required to prevent Irish Governments from engaging in reckless economic mismanagement.

The treaty also presents the people with an opportunity to vote confidence in the euro. A strong eurozone will raise all boats and is pivotal to Ireland's economic recovery. Our exports are the real success story of the economy. Last year they grew by 4.1%.

I look forward to engaging with my constituents during the course of the campaign. I will be urging the people of County Clare to put on the green jersey on 31 May and ensure a "Yes" vote to ensure Ireland's continued recovery.

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