Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

As the Minister of State is originally from County Mayo and the Taoiseach hails from there, I hope that the EU leaders are given the opportunity to visit the west of Ireland during the Presidency. It would be an important visit, irrespective of the extra cost involved. They could visit some key locations in Mayo, Galway or the region. I hope that such a visit will be arranged and my party would support it. I would also support a showcase of the west to the leaders of the other 27 countries.

I note the comments made on jobs, enterprise and scientific developments. I know that Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn would be supportive as far as her availability is concerned.

The Presidency of the Council is an influential position and Ireland, under previous Fianna Fáil Governments, made a real impact. The forthcoming Presidency is strategically important as Ireland will be the most experienced member state to hold such a position while overseeing the 18-month work programme shared between Cyprus, Ireland and Lithuania. The key issues to be tackled during our Presidency will be the European growth agenda, the European budget, the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, and the European crisis. It is vital for Europe's future to make significant progress in these areas.

It would be a feather in the cap of the Government and the State if the fiscal treaty is passed successfully on 31 May. We would be one of the first 12 signatories to ratify the agreement. There is some misunderstanding of Germany's postponement of its ratification process, the situation in France with its new President and the position in Greece. The treaty still stands. The agreement still stands and the first 12 signatories will kick it into place. We should not lose sight of the fact that the 17 members of the eurozone will retain their position. We will approach the Presidency with a strong hand having been one of the early signatories of the treaty and because it will be in place. Irish people have a particular role to play in this regard. They should not be side-tracked by issues in the other 26 members of the European Union and how they react to the fiscal treaty. It is about how we react to the treaty. It is about the people of Ireland having a real democratic say. They should consider the issues before them and not be swayed by propaganda emanating from Germany's slight postponement of the date it brings the legislation to its Parliament and the position in Greece and France. As far as Ireland is concerned, France's position is positive. It is in our best interests that we are a signatory of the fiscal treaty.

We have had enormously successful Irish Presidencies. The reunification of Germany took place during our Presidency in the 1990s and it was a massive event in Dublin. As far as the fiscal treaty is concerned, the "No" side is all ifs, buts and maybes. It is "maybe" we will get money from the International Monetary Fund and "maybe" we will get money from another source but we are guaranteed money from the stability fund. If we reject the opportunity of tapping into €700 billion why would the IMF decide to support Ireland? We would have to go back to the IMF with our cap in our hands if we needed additional support and were not back in the bond markets. I cannot understand the logic behind such a stance. I understand that we will have another opportunity to debate the issue next week. I have had little opportunity to appear on radio or television or use any other media and must use the Seanad to convey my point of view.