SEANAD REPORT:Speaking in the debate on the referendum Bill, Mr Roche said he did not understand, after 35 years of remarkable progress, how it was that people in Ireland conjured shadows about Europe.
The EU, for all its faults, warts and deficiencies, had given the continent of Europe the longest period of peace, tranquillity and progress in human history.
"How is it that any person with a sense of history could seriously destroy that? I do not understand the thinking."
Responding to the debate on the referendum Bill, which was passed, Mr Roche said it was disingenuous to suggest it would be easy to renegotiate the treaty.
Those who had put forward the slogan "Vote No for a better Yes" should indicate what they mean by a "better Yes". The treaty was Plan B and there was no Plan C.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) had absolutely nothing to do with the Lisbon Treaty, stressed Mr Roche. "On the basis of everything we are reading, the basis of a WTO agreement is not in place. In a sense, therefore, we are flogging ourselves over something that may not happen. The various countries are just too far apart. If anything, in recent weeks they have grown further apart."
Mr Roche said we must face the fundamental question: 27 sovereign governments wanted the treaty because they wanted Europe to be more efficient, effective and democratic. They also wanted Europe to be in a position to cope with all challenges on the international stage. If we destroyed that, and frustrated those requests, how would we build the necessary alliances? He believed that we could not do so.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley had not yet received a response from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or Sinn Féin to his invitation to join a proposed all-party group to promote Seanad reform, the House heard. Acting Government leader Dan Boyle (GP) said Mr Gormley had sought nominations to a body to progress reform.