Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to respond to the motion. Specifically, I am glad to have the opportunity to nail some of the myths and distortions that have grown about Europe, generated by a bizarre collection of populists, fantasists and conspiracy theorists across the Continent and in this country. If ever I begin to doubt my position on Europe, I take a quick look around the Continent and listen to those who are most opposed to European participation. In France, there is the obnoxious, far right bile of people such as Jean-Marie Le Pen. In Italy there are the failed remnants of the old Stalinist communists and, closer to home, there is the frankly bizarre pomposity of the UK Independence Party. It never fails to cheer me up that Sinn Féin, for example, appears to see no irony in sharing the delusional, narrow-minded views of little Englanders from Tunbridge Wells.

I firmly believe that Europe has been, and will continue to be, good for Ireland. The notion that we have no say in Europe is ludicrous, particularly now as we draw near the end of a very successful six month Presidency of the European Union. During that time we secured the youth guarantee, which has ring-fenced €6 billion specifically to tackle youth unemployment in some of the worst affected areas of the European Union. We tore up barriers to employment while so-called socialist parties, which tell us they are interested in work, were busy tearing up forms. We also made progress on the development of the digital single market, a crucial area for Ireland in view of the number of high-tech companies located here. This development will dovetail with the roll-out of high speed broadband across the country, which was announced by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, last week.

Trade negotiations continued with Asia and Africa, key emerging markets for the Irish economy and for Irish companies and jobs. We reached agreement on two key components of a banking union package which will help to prevent banking crises in the future. We protected Ireland's interests in terms of the Common Agricultural Policy and fisheries reforms. That is not a bad four and a half months by any stretch of the imagination for a country which, according to some Members of the Opposition, has no say in Europe. There is still another six weeks to achieve more significant measures for the Irish people and the European Union.

Let us not forget that almost every job created in Ireland over the last five years has been a direct result of our role in Europe, be it through multinationals attracted by our membership of the eurozone or the successful exports of our agri-food industry. I am proud of Ireland's participation in Europe, and I am proud of what Ireland brings to Europe. Yes, there are problems sometimes, as we all know, and these problems continue to be addressed. However, Ireland's place is unmistakably at the heart of Europe, as a strong and equal partner with 26 colleague nations. We will not be left on the frozen wastelands of the periphery, politically and in every respect, that is occupied by the UK, the UK Independence Party, Sinn Féin, unfortunately, and some other Independent Members of this House, who would prefer us to have a much more distant relationship with Europe than we currently enjoy and need.

See this speech in context