Since June 2001 the debate in Ireland has been on the second referendum, how to address issues of concern to voters then and to ensure that voters feel better informed. We missed the real message in the first Nice treaty referendum, that just 34% of the electorate turned out to vote. This is a serious issue and there is an onus on us all to ensure that such apathy does not exist in the forthcoming referendum. We should not think of this current debate as some intensive short-term campaign so that we can get back to the real business of national issues. Our role in the EU is the real business. I would hope that the healthy debate on Ireland's role in the EU would continue long after the next referendum.