Minister Roche defends Lisbon Treaty

The Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche is dismissing claims by opponents of the Lisbon Treaty that it will give too much power to the EU.

Minister Roche said: "I do respect that people have concerns about it, and I also respect the point that there are many people who don’t want Europe, who don’t like Europe.

"But the reality of it is that our future is so intimately tied up with Europe that it is in Ireland’s interest that Europe be more efficient and more effective and this treaty will (achieve that)."