Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the MEPs and thank the Leader for allowing this debate. Like other speakers, I commend the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs which gives clear, comprehensive and positive information on the constitution. A good deal of commentary tends to focus on what is not in the constitution. For example, we are frequently reminded that there will be no EU army and no conscription. The Department's website mentions the launch by the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, of a book, The European Constitution Uncensored, at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in Galway. The website observes that this book describes the constitution as the most democratic document ever produced in the long history of Europe. This is an important point.

The simplification of procedures is clearly set out in the constitution in regard, for example, to the role of national parliaments and the EU Parliament and that EU laws must be made in public. We must bear one issue in mind. Most of us assumed the Nice treaty was concerned with a simple case of enlarging the Union. However, that treaty was initially rejected by the public and we cannot take an acceptance of the constitutional treaty for granted.

We must acknowledge public concern about the many EU directives coming on board that we will not have an opportunity to discuss adequately. For instance, that restrictions have been placed on the cutting of turf is an important issue in the west and midlands. People often wonder if we are conserving the peat for all of Europe. I understand the need for the directive but I do not comprehend why people who stopped cutting in 1999 do not get paid the same rate as those who stopped in 2004. This is just one practical example of the issues with regard to directives.

In the last few days I have received much correspondence about EU directives on recycling of electrical waste. Recycling is important and we are all in favour of it. However, many electrical retailers argue that it should be the producer who is obliged to deal with such waste. There are many issues such as this which we must explain clearly. From our experience of the first referendum on the Nice treaty, we cannot take it for granted that the constitution will be ratified. Information must be provided and explained clearly so that we can engage properly with the public in this debate.