Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

One of the questions put was about treaty fatigue. I would say "Amen" to that observation. Part of the difficulties behind the "No" vote the last time was a "Yes" campaign that ran on flat tyres – that did not help – and a "No" campaign that drove on super-inflated tyres – that did not help either – but treaty fatigue also played a part. People wondered why referenda were always being put to them. People asked: "Did I not sign the contract and get married to that one last year? Why is she or he back looking for me to sign the marriage contract again?" One could imagine the stress in any marriage if, after four or five great declarations of love and signed contracts, someone came back again and asked one to sign the contract once more. We need to draw a line in Europe. I hope the convention led by Giscard d'Estaing will be it. We need to consolidate in Europe. We need to digest the enlargement and digest who we are.