Mr. Higgins, MEP:

I join with all sides in commending the Leader, Senator O'Rourke, and the House for the invitation to this important debate. Some 35 years ago, almost to the day, General de Gaulle expressed a dream and a wish that he wanted to see a united Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. He was dismissed at the time as an old statesman, a dreamer, a misguided visionary. Who could blame people for being sceptical because of the situation at the time?

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

All the eastern European states were locked in the icy grip of communism and of Moscow. The Berlin Wall was in place. There was military polarisation between the East and the West involving NATO on the one hand and the Warsaw Pact countries on the other. When any of the Warsaw Pact countries dared to step outside the defined boundaries of Moscow they were ruthlessly suppressed. Let us think, for example, of Hungary in 1956 when the Danube ran red with blood, of Czechoslovakia and the Dubcek revolt and when President Kennedy went to the Berlin Wall and said "Ich bin ein Berliner". It was not an act of vision but an expression of solidarity with the beleaguered people of East Germany. How things have changed in the meantime. These new eastern democratic states, which are former members of the Warsaw Pact, are now sitting down with us in the European Parliament week in, week out. A number of weeks ago, the leader of the orange revolution, Victor Yushenko, visited the Parliament on behalf of his country, Ukraine. He stated he was not tilting his hat towards Moscow but rather towards the European Union.

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

Bulgaria and Romania are now knocking at the door, talks on the accession of Turkey are ongoing and it is only a matter of time before Croatia becomes a member. We are participating in the most successful political and democratic exercise in the history of democracy, as has been stated on many occasions in this House.

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

A new constitution is needed because the whole process of a constitution has grown up, Lego-like. The Treaty of Rome 1957 was followed by the Single European Act, the Maastrict treaty, as referred to by Senator O'Rourke, the Amsterdam treaty in 1997, and the Nice treaties 1 and 2. What is required is a consolidated treaty to pull all the strands, principles, aims and values together into one document and what we are looking for is contained in this document.

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

This document has been set down in the clearest possible terms. Although it enshrines the values of 25 countries, it is not a tome but rather a very concise document. Part 1 sets out the values, aims and principles. Part 2 is crucial and sets out the charter on fundamental rights. Part 3 sets out the policies and the actions. As Gay Mitchell, MEP, said when referring to Part 4 which deals with the new instruments and the changes, it allows for adaptations in the future.

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

However, there is no point in having a fine product unless we can sell it and I am genuinely worried about the salesmanship involved. I have only one regret about today's debate, namely, that the Minister, Deputy Roche, was not in a position to give us a date for the referendum. We need a date so we can begin working on the campaign.

Mr. Higgins, MEP:

Nothing I could say could pay adequate tribute to the Taoiseach for the manner in which he managed to do what the Italian Presidency did not do, to the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, and to the then Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Roche. They did a magnificent job which demonstrated the capacity of Ireland to deal with tricky situations when other countries have failed. Getting agreement on the text of the document is one thing, selling it is another. It is essential to know the date because unless our campaign is vigorous and dynamic, I am fearful that the referendum will fall which would be a tragedy for Ireland and for Europe. This is a document that makes Europe more open, transparent and democratic, and that guarantees peace, prosperity and stability. We need to have the debate up and running immediately.