Ratifying the Lisbon Treaty will help the Irish economy - Statement by Brian Crowley MEP

Companies around the world invest in Ireland because we are the gateway to the European Union marketplace of over 500 million people.

Those who invest in our country and who create jobs in the Irish economy want to see Irish negotiators at the top decision making tables in Europe.

Ratifying the Lisbon Treaty will make decision making processes in Europe more effective and more efficient. This will make for better lawmaking which is good news for the future development of both the Irish and European economies.

The European Union has a number of programmes in place to support Irish economic recovery.

Irish companies are receiving over 1 million Euro a week from the EU so that we can stay to the forefront in the research and technology sectors.

The European Union is providing 375 million Euro under the European Social Fund to help re-train our workforce and combat unemployment.

And that is on top of the very serious levels of financial assistance which Ireland has received from the European Central Bank over the past year to support both our banking sectors and our economy.

Moreover, I do believe that the legal guarantees agreed by EU Governments will give clarity to voters that the Lisbon Treaty will not affect the protections in the Irish constitution in relation to the right to life. Nor does the treaty give any powers to the European Union to change our tax laws and the Lisbon Treaty will not affect Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality.

Another change which has been agreed by EU leaders since the Lisbon Treaty referendum last year is the fact that Ireland will also retain the right to appoint one member to the European Commission.