Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

This is my second occasion, in recent times, to have the pleasure of hearing an address by Mr. Cox on the issue of Nice. Were I not convinced by his reasoned arguments to vote "Yes", I would certainly be convinced by the conviction and passion with which he speaks. Red Rudi's passion pales to insignificance in comparison.

A report in The Irish Times this morning mentioned a British-based group which intervened in the previous Nice referendum and in other referenda, with some modicum of success, in advocating a "No" vote. I refer to the British-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, which is closely akin to the people who support a certain Mr. Barrett, to whom Mr. Cox referred earlier in his address. I earnestly urge Mr. Cox to nail this issue once and for all by emphasising that the Nice treaty has absolutely nothing to do with abortion. Regardless of how misplaced and irrational the fears of those people may be, they need to be addressed. Perhaps a statement from a person of the stature of the President of the European Parliament might reach those people and convince them to vote "Yes" for all our sakes.