Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the new treaty provisions in regard to national parliaments because I will address a group of ICA members this evening. This is the key area which will appeal, namely, the extension of democracy. I compliment Deputy Perry and colleagues on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Scrutiny on bringing forward this report. It is a good, simple report which is the key to the biggest part of this treaty, namely, bringing the citizen closer to the decision-making process. This is pure democracy.

If any issue is raised or if any proposal is made by Brussels, whether in regard to rules, regulations, directives or draft legislation, and if it does not comply with the principle of subsidiarity, it can be brought before the both Houses. That is bringing significant power back to the people and is what I call "real democracy".

The public will be able to identify with the issues raised by the Commission. We will have eight weeks within which to discuss those issues and if we do not like them, they will go to the European Parliament where our MEPs will discuss them. The citizens will have a link to public representatives here. Our MEPs will be able to decide if draft legislation is not acceptable to Ireland. That brings democracy to the core of our society and that is what I want to tell the public.

There was a perception that power was based in Europe, that it made the decisions and that we had no control. There is no question but that has changed under this new treaty. To vote "No" would be a drastic decision but to vote "Yes" would bring Europe closer to the citizen. Young people should know their future lies in Europe. Europe is being opened up to Ireland. We are not being isolated so that we become a little country on the periphery of Europe. This is the model country in Europe and we cannot destroy that.

This Chamber will have the power to discuss any issue brought forward. I will say to the people to whom I will speak this evening that if they have a problem, they can come to me and I can raise it in the House and that we can use the yellow or the orange card system. We are all well aware of what that means in sport. It will give a warning signal to the Commission to rethink legislation if we are not happy with it.

I will do everything I can to ensure people vote "Yes" on 12 June. It is great we are having a referendum because it is one way in which the public can engage in this discussion. The public were not engaging two weeks ago but they are now. Friends and colleagues have telephoned me to ask about the treaty. This is the way forward.