Europe will be as important for Ireland in the years ahead as it has been in those gone by. We must play a fully engaged role, protecting our interests and trying to shape developments in a positive direction. We will only have any real influence if we remain at the heart of Europe and give nobody any reason to question our commitment. A failure to ratify Nice will seriously damage our standing. This is the broad context in which the debate should be situated. Those who know directly and at first hand just what is at stake – the farming and trades union leaders and business leaders such as IBEC and the chambers of commerce – are speaking for the first time and I welcome their participation. Civic society has a role to play in this debate.