The National Forum on Europe began a series of meetings around the State in Waterford last night. The forum was set up by the Government after the Treaty of Nice was rejected in the referendum on June 7th last.
It is intended to provide a platform on which the consequences of that vote can be debated and assessed, prior to political decisions on what should be done about it. The forum is expected to issue a report on its deliberations before Easter, dealing with EU enlargement, the future of Europe debate and the possible options facing decision-makers on clarifying or amending the treaty if it is to be put to another referendum.
These meetings will be a useful test of whether the forum's discussions can inspire interest at local as well as national levels. One clear lesson from the June referendum is that people respond best to issues when they are subject to trenchant debate between opposing viewpoints put by political representatives and public figures they know and trust.
The failure of the last referendum to generate such engagements was plainly visible in the low turnout and high levels of apathy and dissatisfaction among voters. The Government's failure to mobilise arguments and supporters left the field open to a more determined and passionate No campaign.
There is little sign that the forum has so far led to a meeting of minds on the treaty. Nor has it stimulated a national debate on Ireland's role in Europe. But is has clarified attitudes to EU enlargement, which most parties and groups say they favour and it has set the scene for more vigorous discussion.
The forum's work has been hamstrung by one major political weakness - the refusal of Fine Gael to participate. The party's new leader, Mr Michael Noonan, says the issue should be dealt with in the Oireachtas and in mainstream political argument. Unfortunately that deprives the forum of a vast experience of Ireland's European involvement. The forum is a necessary but not a sufficient answer to the information and political deficit on Ireland's European policy. The logic of Mr Noonan's position is that it should become a major issue in the election campaign to raise its profile and give the issue the importance it deserves.