The Union Will Be More Democratic.

The European Parliament will be given greater role in making EU law and greater oversight on the EU Budget

National Parliaments given a greater role in oversight

A Citizens Initiative right introduced to give firmer rights to citizens' right

The Enlarged Union Will Be More Efficient

European Council President post will mean better coordination at European Councils

Council of Ministers Presidency will be a team with three Member States working together over an 18-month period.

The High Representatives for Foreign Affairs will increase the EU's visibility and influence in international affairs.

Introduces a new more coherent system of double majority voting requiring 55% of Member States with 65% of population to vote for a decision to be accepted

The Rights of the Union's Citizens Will Be Better Protected

The Charter of Fundamental Rights given legal status.

The Charter sets out the fundamental rights of Europe's citizens including non-discrimination, equality, the right to life, the prohibition of torture, respect for private and family life, the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial.

The EU Will Be Better Equipped To Meet The Global Challenges

With this Treaty in place the EU will be better equipped to meet global challenges such as climate change, energy security, cross border crime and globalisation, challenges which no Member state could handle alone.

Some False Criticisms of the Reform Treaty.

The voting system is bad for small Member States. Not so.

The new voting system requires that proposals normally have the support of a majority (55%) of EU Member States representing at least (65%) of the EU's population. Even if all of the "Big" Member States vote the same way a proposal will need the support of at least 9 small Member States to be carried.

The Treaty is "Unfair" to small member states. Not So.

 The Treaty is very good for small Member States. The Treaty guarantees exact equality in nominating Commissioners. The new voting system means that only measures that genuinely command majority support can be adopted.

The Treaty was written behind closed door. Not so

The Treaty is based very closely (well over 90%) on the Treaty agreed during Ireland's 2004 Presidency. That 'Constitutional Treaty' was the product of the Convention on the Future of Europe, a convention of 205 people drawn from the parliaments and Governments of the 27 Member States of the union, the European Parliament and 2 members from the Commission which is also engaged in dialogue with Civil Society

The Treaty is less readable than the Constitutional Treaty

The Treaty is written in its current format because there were objections to the 'Constitutional' format. The Treaty may be less readable but the key elements of the 'Constitutional Treaty' are retained. (A free download of the Consolidated version of the EU Treaties is available on the Institute of Foreign Affairs website www.iiea.com see also www.reformtreaty.ie

The Treaty will damage Ireland's tax system / neutrality

Completely untrue. The Treaty changes nothing in either area. Unanimous voting will still be required on taxation.

Commission President Barrasso told the Sunday Independent recently the EU "will not have a common corporate tax rate…. we are not planning to have it…. we believe some kind of fiscal competitiveness is good for the European Union.

Our Neutrality is still protected in this as in earlier Treaties