Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

As Senator Leyden said, it would be foolhardy to tie the hands of any Government in the context of what may or may not happen in the future. The acceptance of the amendment would not only mean including the states not covered by the treaty of accession, but it would also make reference to instruments that do not yet exist. This would not make any sense. The provisions of those instruments may be entirely different from those contained in the accession treaty. We would be providing for a situation, therefore, which could be quite different in the future, which would not be in the best interests of the State.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.