Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Minister, I thank Members for expediting this legislation through the Seanad. The conclusion of consideration of the Bill in this House sees the completion of its course through the Houses of the Oireachtas. This means that Ireland will complete the ratification process of the Lisbon treaty ahead of next week's meeting of the European Council with the deposit of our instrument of ratification with the Italian Government in Rome. I believe the Minister may have been heading to Rome for precisely that purpose. The treaty could enter into force as soon as next Sunday week, were all 27 instruments of ratification to have been deposited before the end of the month. However, everyone is aware from reading newspaper reports that there still may be one or two complications.

I reiterate that with the approval of this Bill by Seanad Éireann today, consideration by the Oireachtas of matters directly related to the Lisbon treaty will be concluded. Obviously, Members must return to other issues in due course. For example, issues such as Oireachtas scrutiny of draft European Union legislation and the transposition of directives will require appropriate consideration by the Houses.