To respond to Deputy Carey, it is important to hear all points of view in this debate, in relation to the Nice Treaty, the Forum on Europe, the future of Europe debate. The purpose of this debate is to bring clarity and information to the public, not to continue with, perhaps, propagating shibboleths or a particular view which does not bear any political reality with the situation.
For example, much credence was given during the referendum campaign to the idea that enlargement could take place without the need for the Treaty of Nice to become operative. Since May it is clear that, with the recent publication of Commissioner Verheugen's report on the progress being made by applicant countries regarding the negotiations for accession to the European Union, up to ten applicant states, in his view, will be ready by the end of next year to become full members of the European Union. That being the case and given that everyone involved in the debate on the referendum confirmed they were in favour of enlargement, it is becoming the position that the institutional arrangements provided for in the Treaty of Nice to facilitate enlargement will have to be operative in order for those ten states to accede. The idea that there can be accession of a number of states at the end of 2002 without the Treaty of Nice becoming operative does not bear much reality to the situation as matters stand.
In the context of our Treaty of Nice deliberations as part of the Forum on Europe which we are discussing, which I welcome, it is important that we try to examine what concerns raised during the campaign can be dealt with in a way that will allow for enlargement to take place, of which the consequence will be to allow for the Treaty of Nice to be ratified in all 15 member states. That requires further consideration and reflection by Ireland, but our approach has been clear. We recognise that whatever problems we have can only be resolved when that debate is completed.