Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators from all sides who participated in this debate. Picking up the points made by Senators Kelly and Bradford, there is nothing before the people over the next four weeks which is more important than this issue. We will make a decision not only for ourselves but for 500 million other people. We will make a decision which will not result in the world coming to an end on 12 June but which could make things work much better for us beyond that date. Picking up the final points made by Senator Bradford, it is critically important we deal with the fact the World Trade Organisation talks and the Lisbon treaty are two separate issues, and I will refer to that in a moment.

I am very grateful to the Opposition parties, in particular, for their support for the Bill in this and the other House because this is an issue which should unite us all and which goes to the heart of our well-being and our future. If Europe works well and prospers, Ireland undoubtedly prospers too. However, if Europe falls behind and if it is forced to continue to operate and to struggle on with decision-making processes which have been in place for 50 years, it will not prosper.

The debate has underlined the widespread support for Europe which exists in this country. The Lisbon treaty will provide for benefits to continue to flow to Ireland, despite what the detractors of the treaty say. To set ourselves apart from our 26 European Union partners by rejecting this treaty would be a highly risky move, especially at a time of global economic uncertainty when an effective European Union has such a key role to play in promoting the shared interests of all the people of Europe. An effective European Union is critical to this country.

Following our work today, the people will have their say in the referendum. The Government has worked very hard to produce a number of informative balanced documents, an explanatory pamphlet, a detailed White Paper and a 24-page bilingual guide, which is being delivered house to house. Phenomenal work has also been done by the Forum on Europe and we now have the Referendum Commission with a €5 million budget and a specific remit to explain the facts.

Our vote next month is vital, but not simply because the rest of Europe is watching. That is not a good reason to vote one way or the other. It is vital because the decision we take on 12 June will send a message about us to international investment decision makers observing us. It will send a message about what we believe about ourselves and our future in Europe. Our decision is vital because it tells us something about ourselves. I believe our decision will show the Irish people retain their underlying positive attitude towards Europe. It will confirm the view of the people that our interests as a nation lie in a vote of confidence in the Union. It will show also, despite or perhaps because of the insecurities and uncertainties that exist, that the people know we can best forward our interests in concert with our European neighbours.

It is vital that on 12 June we vote about facts, the future and not just the past. I say this because I believe past performance is the best indicator of future behaviour. I find it difficult to understand the conspiracy theories that somehow or other suggest there is someone in the European Union lying in wait to ambush us and do us injury. The European Union has done nothing but good for the country and being part of and at the heart of Europe has done nothing but good for the country. We have become a self-confident, progressive, dynamic economy because we are at the heart of Europe.

There is a need to respond to those events that have inspired the 27 European member governments to agree the Lisbon treaty. Eleven members have already ratified the treaty. In those countries where ratification has taken place, the process has been overwhelmingly positive. The vote for the treaty in the European Parliament has also been overwhelmingly positive. The vote of confidence in 27 sovereign governments has been unanimous.

We all know that Europe's future well-being and prosperity cannot and should not be taken for granted. We know there are challenges facing us today which Europeans can ill afford to shirk. Globalisation, decent employment, climate change, energy security and mass migration are only some of the challenges we face as we go into the 21st century. We cannot hope to deal with these challenges alone. Not one of the 27 countries in the Union can resolve these problems on its own. However, there is genuine hope that all our interests will be better reflected if we combine our efforts to deal with the challenges. The reform treaty will help us do this. It will make the Union more effective and democratic and ensure equality of treatment between member states exists as a reality. It will ensure the vital national interests of each member state are recognised and respected. The Government accepts that the treaty is complex in format. In this respect it is no different from any other treaty. However, its aims are simple: a more efficient, more effective and more democratic Europe.

I encourage members of all political parties to engage as strongly as possible in this vital debate on the future of Ireland and its future in Europe. We have a duty to do this, all the more so because of the unprecedented level of misinformation and confusion being sown about the treaty. Not all of that confusion or misinformation originated within our island or State. Eurosceptic media from another island are attempting to achieve a purpose they could not achieve on their own island in our debate. We listened last night on one of our radio programmes to a eurosceptic, a former Cabinet Minister from another Administration, saying he felt he had the right to ask the Irish people to vote "No" on his behalf. We spent 800 years getting to a point where we can determine our future. It is up to him to look after his future within his jurisdiction.

We have a responsibility not to allow arguments to prevail that have no foundation in the facts of the treaty. Never before have we witnessed such an assault on the Union or on any organisation which Ireland has willingly joined. In this debate, we have witnessed tactics and tabloid coverage of a variety which is out of step with past Irish norms. The electorate has been told by opponents of the treaty that it would abolish referenda. That is not the case and the people who put forward that argument know it is not the truth. The people have been told this treaty will end our national control on corporation tax. Opponents of the treaty have argued recently they never said the treaty would get rid of our veto but that it would damage it.

Opponents of the treaty have made extraordinary claims about Article 113, in particular about five words that have been added to the end of that article. They should take the time and the trouble to read that article. Even the busiest of businessmen must have time to read six and a half lines. If not, he should read the first five words of Article 113 which make it clear that the Council, when making decisions in this area, will make decisions by unanimity. Therefore, the veto is protected. What is even more damning in terms of the analysis is that people say they are worried about Article 113 having effect on our corporation tax. Article 113 specifically refers to indirect taxation. The additional words, therefore, do not have the connotation or outcome being suggested.

What disturbs me most is the suggestion being made to good and decent people that if they vote "Yes", this will allow abortion or abortion services to be introduced in Ireland. Many charges could be made that would irritate me but this one irritates me above all. Of all the untruths being told in respect of the treaty, this is the untruth I find most distressing. I have told the House previously that I am opposed to abortion but I respect the fact that others have different views. I happen to be a practising Christian and I believe this is not the way forward. I respect the fact that people have other opinions. However, it is wrong for people to set out to mislead the people and suggest that somehow or other we will lose the protection we have in our Constitution because of this treaty. This is a detestable tactic. I want to see factual debate on the issues in the coming weeks.

I respect the fact there are people who believe we should not be in Europe. Of course there are people with a view different from mine and as a democrat I respect that. However, there is a responsibility on us all that if we are conducting debate, it should be calm, accurate, dignified and, above all, truthful. I am convinced the people will weigh up the arguments and decide to renew their faith in the voluntary European project which has helped us to increase our prosperity. It has provided an environment in which our children could find work at home. It created some of the conditions for peace to blossom on this island. It has increased our own control over many aspects of our lives and has respected our national traditions and interests.

Fate more than choice has placed the key to Europe's future in the hands of the Irish people. We are the only people who will be asked to vote individually on the treaty. We should continue with what we know — a successful formula which has served the country and the people well. We should not contemplate rejecting the treaty for no discernible national advantage. We should stick with the European Union and with the course in Europe we have mapped for ourselves over 35 years. We have several times been urged to turn our backs on Europe, for example, to reject the Single European Act, to reject the Maastricht treaty or the treaties of Amsterdam and Nice. On each of those occasions the people voted "Yes", Europe benefited and Ireland gained. The same choice faces us now on 12 June. This is a major decision about our future and Europe's future. We need to get it right. The "Yes" vote is not just the best vote to make, but the only vote that will serve Ireland's purpose, Europe's future, and the future of all of our people.