Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party)

Those of us who are concerned about the Lisbon treaty and who want it ratified need to look at those constituencies which are concerned about the possible implications of ratifying the treaty with a view to reassuring them. It appears the Taoiseach reassured the farming community to such an extent that the president of the IFA, who addressed the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs yesterday, has said he is calling very willingly for a "Yes" vote and that the IFA will do all it can between now and the day of the referendum to ensure farm families support the Lisbon treaty.

SIPTU is a very respected trade union which has raised issues of concern to workers. The letter in The Irish Times makes it clear that it is looking for similar reassurance on the intentions of the Government on protecting workers' rights and not any cast-iron guarantees or legislation which would be rushed through between now and the referendum date.

This is a very important issue because we were discussing the Charter of Fundamental Rights yesterday in the House. It was pointed out that rights are enshrined in that charter which protect the rights of businesses to establish themselves in any part of the Union — as well the fundamental rights of workers and citizens of the European Union. Unfortunately, several recent judgments of the European Court of Justice indicate a tendency to give precedence to the rights of business over those of workers. These are complicated cases and it is difficult to make a clear interpretation of the basis on which those rulings were made, but the point made by Senator Alex White is valid. If the unions, and particularly SIPTU, can be reassured on the issue it has raised this would encourage many people who have traditionally supported the European Union to back the Lisbon treaty.

I welcome the launch this morning of the Dóchas report — Dóchas is the Irish association of non-governmental development organisations — into the issue of disability and international development. The report points out that people with disabilities form approximately 10% of the world's population. Some 80% of disabled people live in developing countries and form the world's largest minority. This report makes a compelling case for integrating the whole issue of disability into international development policy. Given that Ireland is the sixth largest international aid donor per capita in the world, there is an opportunity to lead international efforts towards truly inclusive development by integrating disability fully. I ask the Leader of the House to invite the Minister of State with responsibility for overseas development aid to debate this issue with us in the Seanad.