Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the effect the Lisbon "No" vote has had on Ireland's negotiating power at Council level in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39548/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since our referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on 12 June, the Government has been engaging with our EU partners in trying to find an agreed way forward with regard to the Lisbon Treaty. The other Member States have shown great understanding of Ireland's situation and a willingness to work with us in finding ways of responding to the concerns of the Irish people. This is the cooperative spirit in which the Union always operates.

In a 27-member Union, each Member State has a certain negotiating weight which it needs to employ in pursuit of its priority objectives. While I do not consider that any serious damage has so far been done to our interests, in the longer term there is no doubt that the prospect of Ireland being the only country unable to ratify the Treaty would put us in a difficult position.

Within the Council, negotiating strength, particularly for a small Member State, arises in significant part from an ability to influence other Member States and to build effective alliances with them in order to secure particular national interests. This alliance-building approach has been remarkably effective for Ireland over the last three and a half decades. It has, for instance, allowed us to achieve extremely positive outcomes from negotiations, whether on agriculture, regional policy support or the operation of the single market. The EU's underpinning of the peace process is also a very good example of our influence delivering for the people. It is vital that we continue to be regarded by others — including the international community outside the EU — as a front rank and committed EU Member State, with an ability to build consensus and contribute effectively to the development of the Union.