Kieran Phelan (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his appointment and wish him well. I have no doubt he will do an excellent job. I also congratulate the Minister of State on his appointment.

As a new Senator, it is a great privilege to speak in the House. There has never been a more important time. Throughout its history, this great country has negotiated a number of important crossroads. The forthcoming Nice treaty referendum must rank as one of the most significant. How many people would have believed, when we first joined the EEC in 1973, that this country would hold the future of the European Union in its hands? That is the position in which we now find ourselves.

The EU needs to move forward. It cannot do so unless the Treaty of Nice is accepted. It is not overstating the position to say that the very future of the EU depends on the forthcoming referendum. If we vote against the Treaty of Nice, we will kill it and we will kill the extremely necessary developments of EU mainstream structures that the treaty contains. We will kill the prospect of having equal status with larger countries such as Britain and Germany and allow the inequality that exists to continue in the form of an extra Commissioner. We will kill the hopes of smaller applicant countries of gaining a relatively swift and painless entry into the EU. These countries, which have until now seen us as the model of how the EU can benefit them, which have held us up as an example to their people, will see us as an obstacle in the path of their membership. If this country votes "No" we will murder the Treaty of Nice and no amount of empty words will be able to wash the blood off our hands.