The Taoiseach, in his reply to Deputy De Rossa, seemed to spurn the question which is at the core of the concerns on this side of the House. There is nothing wrong with a referendum taking place every time a further transfer of sovereignty is proposed between this Republic and the European Union where such a constitutional amendment is required. Will the Taoiseach agree the core of the dispute in various Departments is between those European bureaucrats who feel that reference back to the people is some kind of weakness, if not defect, and those who feel that confirmation of the people's will to an agreed Europe is necessary in order for us to make this progress?
Will he not agree that certainty is needed in regard to the Amsterdam Treaty, which most people would recognise is not a great step forward in itself? Will he agree there must be a clear and unambiguous assertion by the Government and this House that any further step which involves any transfer of sovereignty, challenged or otherwise —and I use that phrase advisedly — will, if necessary, be ultimately subject to the judgment of the people? That would deal effectively with the concerns of Deputy De Rossa, the Labour Party and many pro treaty people that an enabling provision is being written into the Constitution, which will be exercised without reference to the people at some stage in the future.