SEANAD REPORT: The "threat" made by the president of the European Commission in an interview with The Irish Times would increase the possibility of the new European constitutional treaty being rejected in this country, said Mr Brendan Ryan (Lab).
Mr Romano Prodi had said his view was that any member-state which failed to ratify the treaty would have to leave the EU.
He said a single country could not be allowed to hold up the progress of 25. "I actually thought that was the bedrock of the European Union and the reason why we all felt comfortable with it, because nothing could be done dramatically against our interests and our wishes other than by negotiation or agreement," said Mr Ryan.
If the Commission president was going to make such statements, the House should hold regular debates to respond to them and to hear the Government's view. "Because it can't have been a coincidence that a country which voted No to the Nice Treaty is treated to an interview like that by the president of the Commission." Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) said Mr Prodi's remark certainly "ups the ante" in regard to the debate.