Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I am glad a debate on the Lisbon treaty is being held later today. Prior to the referendum, the House engaged in quite a lengthy debate, over approximately six or seven weeks, on the treaty. It would be worthwhile focusing today's debate on what is needed following the rejection of the Lisbon treaty by the people of this State.

It should be stated that the Lisbon treaty is dead. I hope a new treaty will emerge that deals with the loss of power, issues of neutrality, public services and worker rights. If it deals with those issues positively, it would be a treaty I could recommend to the Irish people.

The idea, even at this early stage, of talking about a Lisbon II is just not good enough. The idea that we will accept the rights of the people and at the same time scare them into——