TDs give go-ahead for Nice poll by 98 votes to 13

TDs should have no fears about the ability of applicant countries to negotiate with the European Union, the Minister of State for European Affairs told the Dáil.

Mr Dick Roche said he was absolutely stunned by the "extraordinarily intellectual level" at which they conduct their debates and negotiations.

And in fact Ireland would to well to learn from them. "We will have to grow up" in terms of negotiation, he said as the Dáil passed the Nice Treaty Referendum Bill by 98 votes to 13.

The legislation paves the way for the holding of the referendum on the Nice Treaty within 90 days of its passage through the Dáil and Seanad. The Bill will now be considered by the new Seanad, in a two-day debate starting today.

The Green party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent had expressed concern that applicant countries were looking at a "showhouse" EU where none of the faults of flaws were visible.

"Everything is rosy in the garden" but it would not last for long when they moved into the showhouse, or because the rules were changing so fast they might end up in a different house altogether.

They were coming into a "club" but it was really "a bit of a lion's den", when it came down to the future facing the applicant countries and the economic rules.

The applicant countries saw themselves as "human shields" in enhanced co-operation.

Mr Sargent claimed there was a "Plan B" and that very few people had been told about this. Plan B meant that enlargement could go ahead anyway and that there would be an "inner club".

There was a "fundamental shift" in the way the EU would now operate, and an inconsistency in the Government. Previously, the Government fought to keep its vetoes, now there was far more flexibility and they used it less.

This way the inner club could go ahead, and form a tax harmonisation area. "We will be outside that. That's the question ? do you want tax harmonisation or do you want to stay outside the club." The Government would say no to tax harmonisation and would be outside the club.

His colleague, Mr John Gormley (Green, Dublin South-East) said there was no "sidelining" of enhanced cooperation and no safeguards. The federalist club, particularly countries like France and Germany "have grown impatient with the dillydallying of others" and were moving the federalist agenda forward.

"We know we can enlarge without this treaty", he said, and claimed that the former EU Commissioner Mr Padraic Flynn, as far as he knew had said that enlargement could go ahead without Nice.

The Minister of State said enhanced co-operation was a "third way between force and veto", and he said that Mr Gormley had misquoted a number of people..

He pointed out that the accession of the 10 applicant countries in 2004 could not go ahead without the Nice Treaty.

The Dáil adjourned until Wednesday, October 9th.