Discussions, for example, at the European Convention, as set out in the draft articles of the new EU treaty, mean that any proposals to change the current stance on the defence issue will continue to be for decision by the Heads of Government acting unanimously. Since the referendum on the Nice treaty in October 2002, the Constitution provides that Ireland may not join an EU common defence, and that, as a consequence, further amendment of the Constitution, ratified by the people in a referendum, would be necessary before it could do so. God knows we have had enough referenda in recent times, and enough confusion, controversy and divisiveness about referenda, without foisting another one on the people immediately, which is what we would have to do if we were to seek to participate in a leading way at EU level, without constitutional restriction.