Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I congratulate Senator McHugh and other colleagues who spoke so eloquently yesterday on their maiden speeches in this House. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to the House and congratulate him on his appointment. I think he is the right person for this job at this time. I have known him for a number of years; he is combative, tough and will get his point across.

It is important that those of us who support a "Yes" vote be absolutely straight with the people about the implications of this vote. If the country votes "No" it will impact on foreign policy. The kernel of Irish foreign policy since the 1960s has been to wed ourselves to the new, emerging Europe as a way of influencing what is taking place in the Continent and also as a means of gaining further independence. Senator Mansergh made the point yesterday that we have enjoyed more independence over the past 30 years because we have been part of the European Union. I agree with him totally. If we vote "No" we must be clear on the implications. We will be saying to Europe and the rest of the world that we will be part of the second division, a group of countries on the outside track. That will be detrimental to our future.

This treaty dies if Ireland votes "No" and another one will have to be put in its place. Can Members imagine an Irish Minister re-negotiating a treaty with the country having rejected it twice? What would the other 14 states do? We would be in a poorer position. I ask the House, and the country through the House, to consider this issue very clearly. If we vote against it we will have to draw up another treaty as there are more than five countries that wish to join the EU. That Irish Minister would have his hands tied by the decision of the people. This is a good treaty, but it is not the best one. Some of the language from the Commission suggested that we got it wrong on that particular point but we can deal with that through the Convention. We will make our negotiating position worse if we vote against this treaty.

The European Union is more than just about the net transfers but we should not forget that since we joined it in 1973 Ireland has received a net transfer of €34 billion. We have also gained in terms of the protections and rights afforded to Irish citizens. Mrs. Josie Airey died just one month ago. In the late 1970s she took a case to the European courts on the basis of bad treatment by the Government and the courts. She believed that she had the right to legal protection through the free legal aid system. The decision of the European court had a dramatic effect in guaranteeing her right to free legal aid and ensuring the Government did something about it.