Written answers

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Department of Foreign Affairs

EU Treaties

9:00 am

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding work being undertaken in the run up to the Lisbon referendum in October 2009. [31749/09]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the European Council held in Brussels on 18-19 June, we achieved all of our pre-summit goals, including the permanent retention of an EU Commissioner for Ireland, and a series of legally binding guarantees relating to taxation policy, the right to life, education and the family, and our traditional policy of military neutrality, as well as a solemn declaration on workers' rights. This package, the content of which was shaped by the independent research commissioned by the Government in the wake of last year's referendum vote, and by the work of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union, is the fruit of more than six months of intense negotiation with our European partners.

On the basis of this new package, the Government agreed to propose the holding of a referendum so that the people can be asked to agree a set of amendments to the Constitution permitting the State to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon.

In preparation for the referendum, work has been undertaken on two fronts: legislation and information.

The wording for next month's referendum is contained in the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009, which was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas on 9 July. On the same date, the Houses agreed a Statement for the Information of Voters, which includes the wording of the amendment and explains its content. This Statement will be sent to each voter in advance of the referendum and will be available in polling stations on the day of the vote, Friday the 2nd of October.

In the event of a Yes vote, it is anticipated that further legislation would be required in order to amend the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2007 and the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002.

The Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 was introduced in the House on 6 September. If there is a Yes vote, it is intended to enact this Bill, which has two main purposes: to enhance Oireachtas control of the State's participation in EDA projects and programmes, and to make any participation by the State in Permanent Structured Co-operation under the Treaty of Lisbon contingent on Dáil approval.

One of the clear lessons from last year's referendum is that the people wanted better, clearer information about what they were voting on. I have already mentioned that a Statement for the Information of Voters will be sent to every home ahead of referendum day.

In addition, we have produced a variety of publications explaining the Treaty. These include a postcard-sized explanation of the legal guarantees secured in June, a comprehensive White Paper, a 30-minute guide, and a leaflet which has been sent to every household in the country during the past week or so. As part of the Department of Foreign Affairs' Communicating Europe Initiative, we have launched eumatters.ie, a website which provides factual information about our membership of the European Union.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also maintains a clear, objective and frequently-updated website at www.lisbontreaty.ie . Staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs are available to answer Treaty-related queries on a low-call number, 1850 211 602. We have advertised these different sources of information nationally, and have noted a growing demand for this information as polling day approaches.

A positive result on 2 October will represent an important step on the road to national economic recovery.

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