Seanad debates

Tuesday, 10 June 2003

Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.

 

We are at the final stage of this draft constitutional treaty and consensus has been reached on most of the issues. It is important that we redefine the role of national parliaments. I welcome that development which has already taken place the area of EU scrutiny, where the directives emanating from Europe are now being monitored and will be redirected back to Europe with amendments and perhaps a yellow card to show that we are not happy with them. The public at large would welcome that development because this is where it broke down during the Nice referendum, where people felt that a decision was taken from them and there was no sense of being part of Europe. The people felt that the power had disappeared. What has been happening over the past 16 months will certainly reassure the public. When we put forward this constitutional referendum to the people within the next year they will be much happier in dealing with it. Educated citizens want honesty, clarity and a well-argued debate. They will not take what we say for granted. They want to know what is being done. By working through this Convention, we have made that happen. In the next couple of months, when the final stages of the Convention are put to the intergovernmental conference, we will come out with a very favourable treaty which will be understandable, comprehensible and simple, and the public will understand where we are at.

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