Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Haughey. It is appropriate that he is here for this debate, because his father served as President of the European Council in a distinguished way in 1990. It was a pivotal part of the history, development and evolution of the European concept. His grandfather, the late Seán Lemass, pioneered Ireland's entry into the European Coal and Steel Community since the beginning of his term in office as Taoiseach in the early 1960s. When Charles de Gaulle objected to the English joining the Community, we were also constrained from joining at that stage. When we look at the history of Europe over the last century, there is probably nobody in the Chamber at present who is old enough to have lived through either of the great wars. I do not know why they are known as "great" wars, because they were absolutely horrendous, given the millions of people that were killed. It is only when one goes to the Continent and visits the war graves that one sees the devastation of human life and the destruction of a generation of young Europeans.

It was out of all this that co-operation between the states of Europe was spawned. This was down to the vision of people like Robert Schumann, Jean Monnet and others, who saw that the tradition of war throughout Europe over the centuries was something we should try to avoid and who wanted to chart a new course for the peoples that live across this great Continent. Their vision has been evolving since the first treaty in 1957. We joined the EEC in 1973. At that time, our per capita income was around 50% of the EEC average, but last year it was around 130% of the European average. That is a very considerable increase in the wealth and well-being of our nation. We have seen the attraction economically of many multinational companies investing in Irish jobs and in manufacturing products that we sell to the rest of the European Union.

The whole concept of the European Union is something to which people who hold the interest of their nation states and society would fully subscribe. It is appropriate that we recommit ourselves to the ideal of the founding fathers, and in particular to the economic well being of the nation states. We are in the greatest recession since the Great Depression. There are those who think that it may be as bad and even worse than the 1929-33 era. Several countries are tackling this across the globe, and it will have to be conceded that our participation in the European Union and in the euro is of some considerable assistance in trying to weather the current economic storm.

We have gone from being strong advocates and supporters of the concept through various treaties to becoming somewhat lukewarm in some of the responses we are getting. Some of that negativity has arisen because of internal political issues, economic difficulties and also due to a certain disenchantment and a feeling that the European Court of Justice has intruded into domestic affairs on social and ethical issues. That was probably unnecessary and is something we should safeguard. In that respect, I compliment the Minister for Foreign Affairs and his officials for the manner in which they have approached the outcome of the last referendum.

I welcome the publication of the White Paper, which is very useful and informative and will assist people. Those who voted "No" for different reasons the last time might look to the role of the Minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs in the UN recently, where a strong pro-life stance was taken by the Minister and his officials in ensuring that abortion services were not part of a UN agreement. It goes back to a comment I made previously. The whole area of human rights has been hijacked by sectional interests to pursue their own agenda, whereas the overall intent of human rights is something to which we all subscribe and which need to be protected. Therefore, we need to be very conscious of what is happening.

It is important that the principle of subsidiarity applies across the European Union. We should at all times seeks to ensure that this underpins the thrust of various declarations and legislation that emanate from the European Union. I particularly welcome the declaration by all heads of state that protect the concerns that were expressed the last time, and the fact that these will be transposed into protocols when the next treaty occurs. Those protections, particularly in the area of personal rights, right to life, family, education and so on, include such items as the right to life of the unborn, compatible with the equal right to life of the mother, to which many of us in this House subscribe.

The State also pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, and Article 41.3.1 is also protected under these declarations and the protocols that will ensue. We will obviously have more discussion on that in the context of the Civil Partnership Bill 2009, which appears to put it under some threat. Article 44.2.5 provides for the right of every religious denomination to manage its own affairs and to make its own decisions regarding its own interests. We have ensured that those who are concerned can be reasonably satisfied that the Lisbon treaty will not affect those strong convictions that they have. The capacity of this State to set its own taxation rates has been fundamental to its economic well-being. Most people in commercial life, particularly those who are responsible for attracting foreign inward investment to this country, acknowledge that this country's low corporation tax rates have been the single biggest factor to have assisted them. The ability of this State to make decisions on such matters, rather than having them imposed from outside, is to be maintained.

In the area of security and defence, it is clear that the Lisbon treaty does not provide for conscription or for the creation of a European army. I am aware that incorrect, although strongly made, arguments about such factors influenced certain people during the last referendum campaign. Those arguments seemed to have a particular influence on mothers who were concerned that their sons would be conscripted. It is important that we maintain this country's right to decide whether to participate in military operations. Irish troops have served with distinction in many overseas operations. I have my own views on Ireland's decision to opt out of the EU's defence arrangements, particularly when it benefits from the Union to such a great extent., but those are personal views Nothing in this treaty will allow us to participate in military operations in any way without a decision to that effect being made within the State.

I do not have time to discuss the declarations on workers' rights etc. in any great detail. We can be proud of the constructive and valuable role Ireland has played in the development of the European project. It is imperative that we continue to play such a role. In that regard, we should work in the interests of everybody, including ourselves.