Challenges such as the economic recession, ‘repairing’ the banking system or dealing with the crisis of energy security can only be dealt with by a European Union, which is strong, united and effective.
“The year 2009 will be a critically important year for the European Union,” Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs told a meeting of EU Ambassadors today, Wednesday, 14th January 2009.
“Europe faces major challenges on many fronts – the continuing economic downturn, meeting the need for a new system of regular international financial services, the problem of energy security, the ongoing challenge of climate change, and the many political crises, including the need to find a peaceful solution to the war in Gaza. Europe this year will also need to re-establish its transatlantic relationship, particularly with the new U.S. Administration.
One common priority for the European Union and for Ireland is the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
After almost a decade of talk about reforming the Union, there is a growing awareness that the reforms contained in the Lisbon Treaty need to be put in place urgently.
Those modest reforms are vital to the EU’s efficiency, effectiveness and to improving its democratic nature. We all win if the European Union is equipped to deal effectively with the current challenges and we all loose if it is not.
This year will also be a critical one for Ireland’s relationship with the EU. The next referendum will define our future role in the European Union.
Those who reject the idea of a second referendum reject also the right of the Irish people to examine what is on offer. If Ireland becomes semi detached from the European Union, we will not be involved in the key decisions that will impact on our future and will not be on the map for new investment. It is as stark as that.”
Minister Roche said that it is the intention of the Irish Government to work with its EU partners over the coming months to secure legal clarity on the key issues of concern to the Irish People; taxation, neutrality, socio-ethical issues and workers rights.
“The goodwill exists to secure the clarity that we need on these very important issues. With that clarity and binding agreements secured, we will consult with the Irish people in a new referendum. In that referendum Ireland faces a decision that is on a par with the decision, we made when we decided to join the EEC.
We will be deciding whether Ireland continues to play a central role in the EU or whether we will become a semi-detached and marginalised. We can keep Ireland to the fore or consign our country to some form of second class status.
Those who reject the idea of a second referendum reject also the right of the Irish people to examine what is on offer. They reject our right to secure our future as a key player in a union that will have a key role to play in addressing the many challenges, which we as a small open economy cannot possible address on our own.
Remarkably, they do this without offering any viable alternative, except offer platitudinous generalities, ideas without substance.
The agreement secured at the December EU leaders’ summit was a very significant diplomatic triumph for Ireland. It demonstrates the value of full engagement with our EU partners. It also clearly demonstrated that other EU Governments wanted to work with the Irish Government to address key concerns that Irish people have about the Lisbon Treaty,” said Minister Roche.
Minister Roche concluded by saying that he believed that it is in Ireland's economic interest, now more than ever, to stay at the heart of the European Union project.
“This is not a time to be gambling with the nation’s future by throwing away the place we have constructed for Ireland in the European Union as a dynamic committed member.
If Ireland is not at the heart of the European Union, we will not be involved in the key decisions that will impact on our future and we will not be on the map for new investment. That is the plain reality of the situation,” stated the Minister.
Ends.
14th January 2009