Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate, which has occupied much of the psyche of the Irish nation in the recent months. Today is not the day to focus on the past campaign, but I have no doubt that theses and many studies will be done on the dynamics of that campaign and what exactly happened. There is quite a story to be told about it, about the dynamics and funding of it and the scaremongering that took place. There is much to examine in the months and years ahead. However, now is the time to focus on the future and it is extremely important that we do so. If and when the Lisbon treaty is passed, we should speak about the areas that can be positively influenced by its passage, the progress that can be achieved on climate change and on tackling crime. Crime knows no borders. Therefore, we must act together within Europe. That would be made possible and feasible with the greater efficiencies that would be achieved with that the passing of the Lisbon treaty in terms of members states working better together.

On the area of foreign policy, it would not mean that we would agree on everything but on those areas where we do agree and where it is in the interest of the world that Europe speaks with one voice, we would now have one strong voice. That is an important consideration. We know Irish people's interest in development issues. Our Army personnel participate on peace-keeping duties and have built up a great reputation for the work they do over many years. We know the wonderful work that is being done all over the world. That, too, can be done even more effectively and efficiently when this treaty is passed.

We know the problems we face in energy security. When the Lisbon treaty is passed, energy security can also be dealt with more effectively, and the list goes on. At a time when unemployment is rising and our country is in such a crisis, there is no doubt that if we work more effectively as a Union, we would be in a better position to deal economically with the economic threats we currently face. The passing of the treaty would mean that it would be better for individuals because they would have more opportunity to work and to regain employment, as more initiatives would be introduced at European level. Looking to the future rather than to the past, these are the kinds of areas that will be strengthened as we work together on this treaty. Fine Gael is committed to ensuring this treaty is passed. We believe it is in the interests of this country, our individual citizens, our unemployed and the world.

I have heard people who would argue against the treaty say that nothing has changed, but everything has changed. We are in a different situation. Life has moved on. The Minister outlined a series of changes which mean that the package is different. There is a different context now and the world is a different place. The economics of the world are different. The position Ireland finds itself in regard to the understanding of the treaty is different because there are many explanations. There are new protocols and new agreements. The Government has worked with the other member states and got a response. We will have a commissioner, the loss of our commissioner being one of the key issues that featured on the posters of the "No" side of the campaign. That position has changed and I could go on. There are many things that are different. We are in a new situation with new understandings, carefully garnered from work with the other countries and carefully put into place, as the Minister outlined. He said:

Europe said "Yes" to us last month. Our European partners met all of our concerns with understanding. They agreed to accommodate us by agreeing to the retention of a commissioner and by giving us a series of legal guarantees. They showed themselves to be true partners.

That is a changed situation and it is one that we have an obligation to impart to the Irish people.

It is important during the course of this debate that we get the tone of the debate right. Much scaremongering took place on one side of the campaign on the last occasion. It is equally important that there is not scaremongering of those of us who want to see a "Yes" vote on this occasion. The people have a right to hear what is being negotiated, to hear about the new declarations and protocols and to understand them. They have a right to make up their mind whether they will vote "Yes" or "No". We cannot take for granted that there will be a "Yes" vote on this occasion. The tone of the debate and the information that will be given to the people will be extremely important in terms of how they vote. The course of the campaign will be important.

The Minister needs to give attention to the proposals we suggested, for example, on directives. I would not underestimate the concerns people throughout the country have about many micro issues relating to the implementation of directives. That needs to be given more attention. Many interest groups have valid and serious concerns about the way Ireland implements directives. There is a belief that we do it differently from other countries. We must examine these concerns, provide reassurances and do the work on that area. That is important.

It is essential that every Cabinet Minister should appear before an Oireachtas committee prior to and post Council meetings. Ever since I was chairperson of the National Women's Council many years ago, I believed that there was a huge democratic deficit in terms of Council meetings and reporting back to the Oireachtas system. That, in turn, means that people are not well informed. We are not making the seamless linkage, which there should be, between Europe and the Irish citizen. That is one of the reasons we failed to secure a "Yes" vote for the Lisbon treaty on the last occasion. People felt there was a democratic deficit and disengagement. This is an ideal opportunity to work constructively on these issues to change the ways we have dealt with Europe, to bring in new procedures and to give the feedback to the people, which will let them see what work is being done in Europe. All my experience of working with European institutions, with the non-governmental sector at a European level and working on issues such as equality and poverty has been completely positive. Many of those who voted "No" on the last occasion said that they were pro Europe but they did not like X, Y or Z aspects of the treaty. I genuinely believe that many of those issues have been dealt with by the work that has been done during the past number of months.

We face an economic crisis and how people vote on this occasion will shape our relationship with the European Union for years to come. We should not risk damaging that relationship by voting "No". There is no doubt about that. If people genuinely believe that the treaty is bad for Ireland, let them prove it. Where is the evidence and what are the reasons for voting "No"? People should put that information on the table so we can discuss it. The treaty is good for this country, our fellow member states and the world. One cannot say often enough that Europe has brought peace and prosperity to its member states. It has also spread those values around the world wherever it can and it has reached out to developing countries. All that becomes more possible with the passage of the Lisbon treaty.

Some say that it is undemocratic to reopen the debate and to have a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty, but that is nonsense. Our constitutional law is based on the principle that issues can be reopened at any stage. If the people have changed their minds they have the right to express that. Equally, they have the right to not change their minds. That is democracy. We voted twice on proportional representation, divorce, the Nice referendum, abortion and many other issues. That is what democracy is about. There is nothing wrong with putting an issue to the people again. The notion that it is undemocratic to ask people to express their views again is nonsensical.

There was a great deal of misinformation during the previous referendum campaign on the Lisbon treaty. We must accept that communication by the pro-treaty side was not good. We did not communicate the facts clearly enough about the treaty and we did not deal with the concerns that existed. When the people did not understand, they did not vote in support of the treaty. I met many women in particular who were concerned about conscription. Right or wrong, that was their belief. As the Minister outlined, that concern has been dealt with in detail. Likewise, the guarantees on workers' rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights are reassuring in their support for so many rights. Again, that has to be sold in order to be understood and much work has to be done on it.

Conscription is a matter for each member state as it involves the army of each state. Most states do not have conscription and many of those which do are abandoning it. There is absolutely no possibility whatsoever of conscription being introduced into this country on foot of the treaty's acceptance. How can Europe introduce something it does not have the power to introduce, and conscript people into an army that does not exist?

This is our chance to shape the future for ourselves and the millions of people who are in the Union. The question is whether we are fearful of change or whether we embrace it, and through embracing it help to shape it. There are many areas that we can influence for the better and many critical world issues on which we as part of Europe can have a stronger voice.

There is much evidence that people are positive about Europe and that the European experience for this country has been positive. We should not let the fear that was created by some groups that trade in misinformation damage the real story about Europe. The referendum should be a campaign of truth, based not on myths about what is supposed to be in the Lisbon treaty but a true discussion by all of us about what is contained in the treaty.

We need to send out the message clearly that the Lisbon treaty does not present a danger to this country and that Europe is not a threat because that is how it was perceived during the previous referendum campaign. That is far from the truth. The Lisbon treaty is about shaping Europe's and this country's future. It is about defining our role in the 21st century as a proud nation and as a shaper of the future of the European Union to which we have contributed. This referendum will shape or destroy the work, hopes and dreams of millions of others in the Union. We want to do the right thing.

The context, package, understanding and economic situation are all different. I look forward to the campaign, which will be different from the previous campaign. However, there is a job of work to be done and we cannot be complacent. We cannot take things for granted. We must genuinely engage with people in the coming months. I have heard people say that the way to get the Government out of office is to defeat the Lisbon treaty. It would be a dreadful mistake to sacrifice this country's leadership role in Europe and our future prosperity and development by taking that approach.