IRELAND’S JOURNEY in Europe has been a positive one, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore told the Dáil.

“Last week’s result takes that journey another step forward. It has sent, and has been received, as a strong signal that Ireland wishes to remain in the mainstream as a committed member state.”

He said the treaty vote had underscored Ireland’s commitment to a strong and stable euro.

“It has strengthened our hand as we face into one of the most important and significant periods in our history.”

The Tánaiste was introducing the European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2012 which, he said, was part of the legislative follow- up to the popular will and solemn decision of the Irish people, as explicitly expressed through last week’s vote.

Mr Gilmore said the Bill provided for a protocol on transitional measures on the composition of the European Parliament.

The Lisbon Treaty provided for 751 seats in the parliament, compared to 736 seats previously. The allocation of those seats under Lisbon increased the number of MEPs allocated to 12 member states, while reducing Germany’s allocation from 99 to 96 – the maximum for any state.

Mr Gilmore said Ireland’s number of MEPs remained unchanged.

He said a second element of the Bill would be amending article 136 of the treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Mr Gilmore said that when the economic crisis broke in Europe, in particular when Greece came under severe pressure in the markets, the EU did not have a rescue mechanism through which loans could be advanced to a state in difficulty.

He said the forthcoming accession of Croatia, which was planned for July 1st, would see the end of the EU integration process for that country, but it would, he hoped, also mark the beginning of the accession of all the countries of western Balkans.

“Croatian accession is proof that the EU holds to its promises; that the process may be complex, difficult and demanding, but that there is certainty about the outcome.”

Mr Gilmore said Ireland had been positively associated with Croatia’s accession process from the beginning “As the presidency in 2004, Ireland sought and achieved a single clear decision on granting Croatia candidate status.”

He said the intervening eight years have seen Croatia undertake onerous reforms to bring its legislation into line with the EU.

“Croatia was the first acceding country to have to negotiate specific chapters on rule-of-law, the judiciary, fundamental rights, justice and security.”

Mr Gilmore said Croatia’s accession would see the “European family” expand to 28 members.

“I believe that Croatia’s success is the best proof of how strong and successful the transformative power of the enlargement policy can be. The Croatia that is on the verge of EU membership is very different to the country that applied for accession to the European Union nearly a decade ago.”

Mr Gilmore said Croatia’s progress had shown the way to others.

“It has shown that the benefits of European integration are within their grasp,” the Tánaiste added. “Croatia has shown that it is possible for a country once ravaged by war and inter-ethnic strife to build stable democratic institutions where fundamental rights are respected and the rule of law is strengthened.”