Second, as regards the Council of Ministers, it is true that the larger member states gained a little in relative terms to balance their loss regarding the Commission. However, one look at the figures shows how comparatively marginal the changes have been. Without the Nice treaty Ireland would have 2.24% of the total votes in an EU of 27 member states. Under Nice this would fall by less than one tenth, to 2.03%. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to work out that 2.03% or 2.24% is not a majority in the Council of Ministers. Our influence in the Council of Ministers has arisen because of the goodwill we have earned, goodwill we would now squander if we were to listen to the naysayers.