Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, and the Bill that is before the House to provide for a new referendum on the Lisbon treaty. Like Senator Ó Murchú I have listened to the full debate. We have had some excellent contributions on the Bill. The Lisbon treaty is an important issue for Europe but it is vital for this country.

A maxim taught to medical students is sometimes translated in Latin as, Primum non nocere, first do no harm. That is a principle we should bear in mind when dealing with the Lisbon treaty and Ireland's relationship with the European Union. In voting in the referendum on 2 October we should first and foremost aim to ensure we do not harm Ireland. It is my humble opinion that a "No" vote would do a great deal of harm to this country, its economy and future.

It is essential that all parties, political or otherwise, who advocate a "Yes" vote, must hit the road running and take the initiative in providing the electorate with clear, concise information on what is contained in the treaty. If that message is communicated properly I have no doubt the Irish people in their wisdom will deliver a resounding "Yes" vote in October. The "No" campaign cannot be allowed to muddy the waters again. The legal guarantees sought and granted by our European partners in response to the concerns and issues that were raised during the previous referendum campaign on the Lisbon treaty will ensure that the people will respond in a similar positive fashion.

From an economic perspective, we are living in a very different country now, 13 months on from the last referendum. Even more important than the legal clarifications and the legal guarantees is the dramatically changed economic circumstances in this country. We can no longer afford the luxury of saying "No" to our most important economic partner. That is not scaremongering or bullying but rather a reality check. I was struck by comments made by the Irish Exporters Association recently which stated that Ireland's export industry would die without Europe. Its CEO outlined that Ireland's participation in Europe was vital to our economic well-being and emphasised the importance of a "Yes" vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum in October. He stated,"It is not a question of a grey complicated argument, it is simply a question of our economic well-being and if we do not have a resounding "Yes" vote, this country is in deep trouble".

Exports are vital to our future prosperity and an essential ingredient in dragging this country out of recession. Irish exports have grown more than a hundred-fold since we first joined the EU in 1973. Since then the percentage of Irish exports being sold to European countries, other than the UK, has risen from 21% to 46% each year. Ireland exports 80% of all goods and services produced here and Europe is our biggest customer. It is vital to heed the words of the Irish Exporters Association, Chambers Ireland and other bodies and organisations that are concerned with job creation and investment in this country. A "Yes" vote is in the national interest and in the economic interest of this country.

Can one imagine how our country would have coped to date if we were not part of the eurozone? The European Central Bank has provided valuable liquidity to our banks during the financial crisis. Without the solidarity of our partners in Europe we faced economic meltdown. Remaining at the heart of Europe is essential to attract investment. Political uncertainty creates economic instability and now more than ever we need both political and economic stability. I am delighted to see the return of the Minister, Deputy Martin, to the Chamber. I welcome the fact that he has called on other Ministers to appear before Oireachtas committees, in the same way as he appears before them prior to GAERC meetings. I am a member of the Joint Committee on European Affairs and those meetings are very productive. We should consider putting them on a more formal basis.

Fine Gael looks forward to campaigning for a "Yes" vote in the forthcoming referendum. Heretofore, a great deal of emphasis was placed on the technical aspects of the treaty. It is important to outline the benefits of the treaty to this country. The treaty is all about being a player in Europe and being centre stage. The treaty also relates to participation. Ireland has benefited enormously as a result of its membership of the European Union. We cannot operate in isolation or deal alone with global matters such as energy security, climate change and possible health threats. We must work together, co-operate and show absolute commitment to ensure the ratification of the treaty which is fundamental to everybody in this country and the other member states of the European Union. It is crucial that we show commitment to the cause and put our differences aside. That is the only way we will persuade the people to support the treaty.