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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 2

Written Answers. - Nice Referendum.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

92 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Nice referendum on 19 October 2002. [18928/02]

I was delighted by the result of the referendum on the Treaty of Nice in which the people of Ireland gave their overwhelming endorsement to the treaty and to the process of enlargement.

The Government is now making the necessary preparations to allow Ireland to deposit its instrument of ratification with the Foreign Ministry in Rome by the end of the year, allowing the treaty to enter into force at the start of February. This will facilitate the expected signing of an Accession treaty by ten of the applicant countries later in the spring.

It was clear from the result of the first referendum that many people had concerns about issues relating to our membership of the European Union. Moreover, they also felt that the issues raised by the treaty had not been properly debated. The Government listened carefully to what they had to say and took various steps to address their concerns.

Together with the main Opposition parties in the House and with many organisations representing civic society, we made concerted efforts to ensure that the people had all the information they needed to reach an informed decision.

To help foster a broader debate about the future of Europe and Ireland's role in it, we established the National Forum on Europe which has done excellent work in bringing the discussion to the people. I particularly commend its decision to hold public meetings in areas outside Dublin. The forum is continuing to meet and will continue to make an important contribution as the wider debate on Europe's future unfolds in the European Convention and elsewhere.

Enhanced arrangements for Oireachtas scrutiny of EU business have been operational since July and have recently been placed on a statutory basis.

We also responded to people's concerns on the issue of neutrality, and, as a result of the people's decision, the Constitution will now include a prohibition on Ireland entering an EU common defence without a further referendum.

On this occasion we had the fullest national debate on European issues since our entry to the EEC in 1972. The clear message was that there is a strong recognition of the continuing importance of EU membership to Ireland in the future, coupled with a desire to extend to others the opportunities which we have had. At the same time, we need to ensure that people are properly informed about future developments in the Union, and to work to shape those developments in a manner which continues to reflect Irish interests and concerns.

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