Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timescale within which the new EU constitution will be put to referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2622/05]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 169: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans for the ratification procedure for the EU constitution in the various member states; the implications of any member state of the EU failing to ratify the constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2813/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 169 together.

To enter into force, the European constitution must be ratified by all member states of the European Union in accordance with their own constitutional requirements. The constitution sets a target date of 1 November 2006 for the completion of this process. Two member states, Lithuania and Hungary, have already completed their ratification procedures and the Slovenian Parliament approved the constitution yesterday.

Referenda are either certain or highly likely in ten member states, including Ireland. Spain will be the first member state to hold a referendum and will do so on 20 February. While definitive dates for the other referenda have not yet been set, it appears they will take place at different times between the late spring or early summer of this year and the summer of next year. No decision has yet been taken on the timing of a referendum in Ireland, although it will be held in good time to allow for the completion of the ratification process by the target date. The necessary legal preparatory work is under way.

Should one or more member states fail to ratify the European constitution, it cannot legally enter into force. The Union would clearly enter into a period of major political difficulty and uncertainty but there is no point in speculating about how the situation would then unfold. A declaration by the Intergovernmental Conference, which negotiated the constitution, simply provides that if, two years after signature, four fifths of the member states have ratified and one or more have encountered difficulties, the matter will be referred to the European Council.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When will the legislation relating to the referendum be introduced? Does the Minister expect that the referendum will be held in the autumn? Is he concerned about the recent Eurobarometer findings that 45% of Irish people have not even heard of the European constitution? As regards our awareness of the constitution, we are, in football parlance, in the relegation zone, coming 22nd out of 25 in the order of ignorance. Does the Minister agree that the level of ignorance about the European constitution is dangerous and that there is a possibility that there could be a rerun of the previous catastrophe? What action does he intend to take in respect of this matter?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A decision has not been taken on when the referendum will be held. As stated earlier in respect of the discussion at the European Council meeting in December, when I leave the House I will attend a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee aimed at progressing the issue of the wording and dealing with the legal implications etc. involved with holding the referendum. I assure the Deputy that, following the publication of the legislation, the Referendum Commission will be granted ample time in which to encourage a good public debate on this issue. In light of the previous efforts of the commission when provided with such time, the low awareness figures to which the Deputy referred will be turned around quickly.