Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this important treaty. It is useful that Seanad Éireann is engaging in such a debate at this early stage. What is key is not ensuring the treaty is passed by the people in a referendum in a few months' time but, more importantly, ensuring they vote "Yes" in a progressive and enthusiastic fashion. In that context, the electorate must be extremely well informed. Unlike the position in previous referendums, it must not be the case that the Government will be obliged to threaten or blackmail the public into voting "Yes" on foot of fears about what would happen if we were to vote "No". We must pursue the political objective of ensuring the vast majority of the people not only vote in favour of the treaty but that they do so because they believe it to be in the very best interests of every citizen throughout the country.

If the world still exists in 500 years, I wonder what the history books of the time will state about the Europe of the 20th and 21st centuries. It will certainly make for interesting reading. I am sure one of the matters on which they will concur is that the project relating to reuniting a continent divided in the wake of two world wars, bringing about the European Union, which resulted in the bringing down of the Berlin Wall and the institution of the common currency was one of the most progressive of its kind in the history of civilisation. Overall, the project has been good for everyone in Europe and we must ensure we will continue to play a central and integral role in it.

The fiscal compact treaty is neither the beginning nor the end of the project. Unlike the treaties of Lisbon, Maastricht and Nice, there is no question of Ireland having a veto. This is because the treaty only needs to be ratified by a majority of eurozone members. It is important that Ireland, given its current economic plight, be centre stage in European policymaking. A resounding "Yes" vote by the people on the treaty would provide a strong guarantee in respect of our continuing to have influence in Europe. It would also ensure that if further supports are required from the European Union, these would be forthcoming.

The debate in which we are engaging is part of the first phase of educating and informing the electorate on what is contained in the treaty, in the first instance, and, probably more importantly, in the second, what it does not contain. We do not want a referendum campaign based on scare tactics. I hope that in advance of the establishment of the Referendum Commission and the holding of the referendum, the Government will, at least, ensure a copy of the treaty and a simple explanatory memorandum will issue to every household in the country. That is not too much to expect. We believe in democracy. However, democracy does not come free of charge. There would be some financial cost in issuing a copy of the treaty to all households, but it should not be beyond our means, even in these straitened times, to ensure this happens in the coming weeks. Like any document, it may not be read in every house but we want to ensure that information is available. Therefore, the educational side of this referendum is important and people must understand what they are voting for. This is about housekeeping. I was at a Fine Gael meeting in Midleton on Monday night and was asked to explain what the treaty was about. It was the last question I expected and I did not have a 20 page reply on hand. In my best hamfisted way, I said I saw the treaty as being about good housekeeping for Europe and Ireland. Over the past decade or so, the European and Irish economies saw fiscal responsibility go out of fashion, with excessive borrowing becoming the norm and overspending resulting in people not being able to pay their way. We must ensure that will not happen again.

This is not about an austerity treaty but rather a common-sense treaty to ensure the next generation will not have to go through what the current generation is going through. Rules and regulations will be put in place which are fair but flexible, firm but real. That will be the kernel of the debate once the referendum campaign gets under way. It is understandable that the public is exerting maximum pressure on the Government to ensure problems such as our debt crisis and the promissory notes are put on the agenda, debated and resolved. I have every confidence that the Government is working hard and will make progress on these vital areas in due course. Nevertheless, it is wrong to expect overnight miracles. It took our country a full decade to get into the appalling current economic crisis, and this will not be solved overnight. We require political and economic management at a high level. We are beginning to see progress and the Minister for Finance is doing a good job of turning around the economic ship of State.

With regard to the banking debt and promissory notes, we hope for progress and believe it will come, but the treaty is a stand-alone issue. It is a common-sense treaty that is good for Ireland and Europe. I look forward to more engaged debate when the campaign starts but I appeal to the Government to ensure no voter on referendum day can say he or she does not know what it is about, that he or she is ill-informed and there was no explanatory note or sufficient information from the Referendum Commission. In this case we must ensure that everybody is fully informed.