Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

I thank Senators and the Leader, Senator O'Rourke, in particular, for the invitation to MEPs to speak here on this important debate. The European Union treaty was agreed at a meeting of Heads of State in June 2004 which was the culmination of an extensive process. In 2001, EU Heads of Government set up a structure known as the EU Convention, which brought forward proposals for a new European Union treaty to the Heads of State meeting in Greece in 2003. It is important to emphasise this because in previous treaties on which we voted we were told by those who opposed them that they were not open and transparent. I congratulate the Irish members involved in this Convention — Deputy Carey, Proinsias De Rossa, MEP, John Bruton and Deputy Gormley — on all the work they did. Over 16 to 18 months they brought together many people, including the young, trade unions, civil society, national governments, national parliaments, European parliamentarians and groups representing many different areas of civic society, who had speaking rights. They discussed this issue and put many ideas together. It is important to stress this because those who oppose the work of the Convention cannot in honesty say it was not a unique, open and transparent process worked out over a long period by many who put their own views forward.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

During the first six months of last year, under the Irish Presidency of the European Union, negotiations were intensified and the diplomatic skills of our key negotiatiors during this process must be recognised. The Taoiseach, as President of the EU Council of Ministers, used his extensive diplomatic skills to broker an agreement for a new EU treaty and achieved success, ably assisted by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, who was then Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European affairs.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

Securing agreement on a new EU treaty was a crowning achievement of the Government during its Presidency of the European Union. This was the Presidency that also oversaw the accession of ten new member states. One cannot underestimate the success of our Presidency. The work it did was extraordinary. Many said it could not be done but the Government did it and deserve our congratulations.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

We now live in a Union of 25 member states with 470 million people. The European Union is enlarging in size. Romania and Bulgaria are set to join in 2007 while the Union is embarking on an aggressive policy to ensure many of the countries in the Balkans can join.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

I wish to refer to a point made by Senator Ross and referred to by the Leader. What will this do for Ireland? What is the future? We know what the Union has done in the past but what will it do in the future? Social partnership has helped us all. Senator Ross mentioned low inflation and low interest rates. One of the main benefits is that we have access to a market of 470 million people. That is extraordinary for a country of just over 4 million people. We have full economic access and we have made that pay for us.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

When the debate adjourned for lunch I opened some of our letters which contained a document stating that in 2005, the Irish workforce will reach 2 million, the economy will generate a projected 61,000 new jobs, there will be an 8.3% increase in demand for labour, 49% of companies have vacancies, 64% of companies are more likely to expand business, 75% of companies have difficulties in filling vacancies, 40% have expansion plans being hindered by recruitment difficulties and manufacturing redundancies will fall. If anybody wants an answer to my question I have just answered it. Can anybody honestly say we should not fully participate in the EU and have our feet under the table? If we want enlightened social policies we must have a vibrant economy. If we want to address social exclusion and have a proper education system, proper schools, proper hospitals and a proper health care system we must have a vibrant economy. If we do not have a vibrant economy we will not have the money to do that. That is what Europe has done for us.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

We cannot ignore what Europe has delivered for us. As Proinsias De Rossa, MEP, said, it is not perfect. The constitution contains articles that I like as well as articles I dislike. It is a unique experiment. Never before in the history of the world have 25 nations come together. We are part of that process and we play a key role. We should continue to play such a role without prevaricating. I respect the views of others on the constitution, but they are not the same as mine.

Mr. Eoin Ryan, MEP:

From an Irish perspective we had four main concerns entering into the Intergovernmental Conference process and they have been addressed. There is retention of unanimity with regard to all taxation matters. There is a maintenance of appropriate safeguards in the area of criminal law. Our traditional policy of military neutrality is fully protected and there is a maintenance of institutional balance, in particular, in regard to our representation in the EU Commission. Ireland has nothing to fear from this treaty but it is important for those of us who support it to fight a vigorous and determined campaign to ensure we ratify it because it represents a good deal for Ireland. It is also a good deal for the European Union.