Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 November 2007

11:00 am

Photo of Eugene ReganEugene Regan (Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach has announced that a referendum will be held on the new EU treaty in the first half of next year. The House is due to have a debate on this treaty but I wish to draw the Leader's attention to two issues. In the context of the opt-out on policing and judicial co-operation in criminal matters, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, indicated, and this is indicated in the declaration as well, that Ireland is fully committed to this area of co-operation. However, research shows a host of decisions at European level have not been transposed into Irish law and there is inordinate delay in other cases in transposing those measures, for instance, orders freezing property and evidence combatting corruption in the private sector. Ireland has implemented the European arrest warrant but the latest European Commission report states that we have not fully implemented that framework decision in accordance with the requirements of EU law.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, James Hamilton, recently said that the European arrest warrant was fundamental to improving justice in Europe. He also disagreed with the Government on its decision to opt out of this area. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform should be asked to clarify this matter for the House and explain what is meant by "fully committed". He should clarify the reason Ireland has failed in some instances to implement these measures.

We have learned the lesson from the referendum on the Nice treaty that domestic issues play a significant role in the decisions of voters on EU treaty referenda. I note that the Taoiseach is held up to ridicule in the newspapers today, in particular with regard to the salary increases and his unbelievable evidence to the Mahon tribunal. The electorate will feel they were fooled in the general election campaign on such matters as the economy, health and other matters. This House should reflect on whether this referendum will be passed, given the current Taoiseach. I ask the Leader to reflect on this question as it is an issue which the House could deal with during the debate on the EU treaty. The referendum will fail if the current Taoiseach is still in power next year.

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