Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the inclusion on the Order Paper of No. 22, a motion regarding a report published by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny last week on the enhanced role for national parliaments under the Lisbon treaty. In addition, No. 15 relates to the interim report of the Joint Committee on European Affairs on the Lisbon treaty. Its final report will be issued tomorrow. Will the Leader provide time next week for a debate on these reports? There is no point in having that debate after 12 June.

We should designate next week for the discussion of all issues relating to the Lisbon treaty. If that is not possible, we should at least meet next Friday week to thrash out all the issues and to highlight the benefits accruing to the Oireachtas and the public from the provisions of the treaty. Under the enhanced role for national parliaments, it is recommended that this House meet on one day a month to deal specifically with EU business. This would represent a major reform of the way we conduct our business and would offer many benefits. We must discuss all these issues in advance of the referendum on 12 June. It would be a waste of time to do so afterwards.

I commend the "Prime Time" team on last night's informative programme. I refer not to the debate itself but to the presentation of the facts. Leaving aside individual interpretations of those facts, it is important that the national broadcaster should provide factual information on what is included in the Lisbon treaty. This morning's "Morning Ireland" programme, featuring a Danish MEP, was of no help to the campaign, even though Mr. Alan Dukes spoke very well. This person is a eurosceptic——