I will extend the meaning of the word "interpretations" to allow me interpret a few of the comments made by the Minister of State in his closing address. I note that the delay in bringing the Bill forward was caused by the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, who has been in the wars this week. This was because of the original decision to allow the ratification procedures to be included in a Bill being brought forward by him and as usual there was a delay on his part in doing so. I am glad that the issue has been taken forward by the Department of Foreign Affairs and that we are not now delaying ratification any further.
Perhaps the Minister could resolve a point for me. I understood until recently that the Belgians and the French were holding things up. The Minister has now mentioned other member states. When I spoke about Belgium earlier, I was referring to the Minister's speech in which he said:
My understanding is that all of the EU member states with the exception of Ireland and Belgium have completed ratification procedures.
I am not going to fall out over the issue as to whether a country has ratified in the last week or two. As a general principle, it is not in Ireland's interests to be tardy in dealing with EU matters. We have gained much from our membership.
Because of the failure of the referendum on the Treaty of Nice, we have sent a very negative signal throughout Europe. We have burnt much of our credit and we should now be trying to undo the damage that has been done and redevelop that credit. It is in that context that I am concerned about the delay. I would have been appalled if we had been the ones holding up the ratification of the agreements with Switzerland. We should have been at the forefront rather than at the bottom. I would be utterly appalled if Ireland were the country holding up ratification of the agreements with Switzerland. We should have been among the first to do it rather than being at the bottom of the league. It is in that context that I spoke.
I am glad the Minister has had the good grace to acknowledge and welcome the Fine Gael proposal on the Treaty of Nice. I reply, hopefully with the same good grace, that I would welcome Government proposals on the issue – a programme of action. That is what I have been demanding. One of the reasons that, with advisers, I went to the trouble of producing this document was to encourage a response from the Government. Merely telling me that there is something happening in that circus at the Castle is not a response.
The Government genuinely has a duty to provide leadership. It is a duty which has been ignored. It may be because there are divisions – I know that different strands exist but I will not go over that now. I ask that the message be passed on to the Government to put forward its proposals. We will give them a fair hearing. I doubt that, in the end, there will be a whole range of differences between my proposals and the Government's, but the sooner we get going the better. I am happy with the interpretations that are in the Bill and I am prepared to agree section 1.