Maybe there is a lesson in this for the future which would oblige us to examine how treaty changes are dealt with. If Ireland's national interests were at stake we should be entitled to a veto and I and others would be happy to use it, but nobody can seriously argue that Ireland's national interests are at stake in the Nice treaty. Would we like to be sure of retaining our Commissioner for ever and a day after 2007? I suppose we would. Is our national interest really at stake? Will it be damaged very much if we lose three MEPs in a few years? I doubt it. I do not think that the people of Connacht-Ulster will be marching in the streets if they suddenly find they have two MEPs rather than three.