Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

Regarding the Lisbon treaty and the guarantees which are now being put in place, I welcome the progress that has been made. As Senator Norris said, we need clear language on this and we are getting that. We had a confused, emotionally charged referendum campaign on the last occasion and it is time to end the emotional blackmail that existed at that time. We now have clear language being introduced in the decision of the European Council. It will be lodged with the United Nations.

There is a precedence for this, namely, when Denmark rejected the Maastricht treaty and it was eventually all incorporated into EU treaties. We know from the last year how important Europe is to us. We are getting support from the European Central Bank and there are political guarantees for a small state like Ireland. There are people who want to isolate us, benefit their own agenda politically by an isolated Ireland and create social unrest.

We have to get this referendum right. We need to start the debate in this Chamber. We all have a responsibility to ensure we ratify the treaty this time and get on with the business of the State and resolve our economic problems, but the prerequisite for that is to endorse and give a mandate for the ratification of the treaty.