I voted "Yes" at the last referendum and I will be doing so again this time. I will explain to the best of my ability the reasons for my support of the campaign to ratify the Nice treaty. The text of the treaty has not changed since the last referendum but the question being put to the people has. On the last occasion the question centred on the ratification of the treaty, while this time the people will also be asked whether they will accept a constitutional guarantee of Irish non-participation in military alliances or defence commitments of any description. This gives us for the first time a constitutional underpinning of Irish neutrality. The Labour Party sought this guarantee and, in fairness to the Government of the day, it acceded to the demand and gave it to us. It was particularly frustrating, therefore, to see elements of the "No" campaign making a huge issue of militarisation during the run-up to the last referendum, and they still have not recognised the significance of the fact that we now have a constitutional guarantee which underpins our neutrality. Therein lies the confusion, arrogance and, in some quarters, ignorance of the "No" campaign.