Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to organise a debate on the treaty published yesterday. Unlike the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, I believe we should have a referendum. To quote him directly, he is not a fan of referendums and does not believe they are democratic. I have great time for the Minister but he might have to go back to political science class to learn that referendums are very democratic. In that regard he is in conflict with the Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, who said it is good for the people to be involved. If the people are to be involved a referendum should be held. We are aware that the Attorney General's office would have advised the Taoiseach and the negotiating team on all the drafts of the treaty in terms of trying to get wording removed to ensure there would not be a referendum. Far be it from me to educate anyone in this House on the provisions of the Constitution but the Constitution can be amended even if a Bill is not in conflict with it. This House has the power to petition the President that any Bill which contains a proposal of national importance be put before the people to get their assent. The Government Senators, and Deputies, would agree that this measure is of national importance and if they believe that, the will of the people should be sought to determine whether they are in favour of it. The fact that the Government is running away from it, as the statement from the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, clearly shows, is a bad sign for democracy here because if the people cannot be convinced by the Government that this is in Ireland's best interests, then it is not in Ireland's best interests. It is up to the Government to convince the people by weight of fact and not by the scare-mongering displayed on the six o'clock news yesterday to the effect that we will be kicked out of the eurozone. We know that is a lie. There is no provision for that-----