Seanad debates
Thursday, 12 September 2002
An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht, 2002: An Dara Céim. Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002: Second Stage.
There are people who say that a "No" vote will tell the applicant countries that we do not want them in Europe because we do not want to share. I do not think it is relevant to use this argument to win people over on the basis of our image abroad. My experience of the applicant countries suggest that they look at Ireland as an example of the benefits that can accrue to them if they can follow our example as a small country. That is why it is so important that the message communicated by the Government to the electorate is put in the context of the reality of the benefits we have enjoyed. We cannot tell people that they are whingers or anything else.
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