Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Uachtarán Buzek go hÉirinn. President Buzek mentioned that the Lisbon treaty was a treaty of parliaments. In particular, he referred to the enhanced role of national parliaments in scrutinising legislation, which is a step in the direction of subsidiarity. He also heard the welcome in this House for his support for Ireland's right to determine its own tax rates, specifically our corporation tax rate. These two issues are united around the question of subsidiarity and the guarantees given in advance of the second Lisbon treaty referendum. As President Buzek said, his last visit to Ireland was prior to that referendum. He will recall that the people had particular concerns around military neutrality, tax rates and fundamental human rights - specifically the role of the Constitution as the absolute guarantor of the protection of the right to life, the rights of the family and the right to an education. He will also recall that there was a political agreement at the European Council in June 2009 on these guarantees, to which legal effect was to be given at the time of the Croatian accession treaty. As that time is upon us, as the European Parliament will have a particular role in that regard, will it fully respect the political agreement made in June 2009? Will it endorse fully and integrally Irish constitutional supremacy, specifically in protecting the right to life, the rights of the family and the right to an education?