Alex White (Labour)

In the context of this debate on the Lisbon treaty, I have no difficulty with people raising profound issues on where Europe is going, the policies it takes in respect of world trade and the impact it has on different sectors of our economy and society. I do not criticise Senator Doherty or anybody else for raising such issues in this debate because we are thereby afforded an opportunity to consider the treaty and related issues. However, I have a difficulty with the attempts being made by Senator Doherty and others to visit at the door of this treaty all the concerns and objections people have about what is happening in Europe. That is a fundamentally dishonest approach.

For example, the need to rebalance world trade should be debated politically in Europe. Senator Doherty, Sinn Féin and other parties, irrespective of who they are, have a responsibility to engage in debate. However, to suggest that the provisions of the Lisbon treaty somehow privilege the position of Commissioner Mandelson, who seems to be the new bogey man for opponents of the Lisbon treaty, is fundamentally dishonest. The Lisbon treaty does nothing of the kind. I may be one of the few people who actually read the treaty, perhaps because I lead a nerd-like existence. Nothing in the treaty supports for a moment what Senator Doherty is arguing.