Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests, who come at a very appropriate time in the context of European issues.

As a committee we have discussed this subject on a number of occasions and we have come to the conclusion that the issue that affects us to the greatest extent and the one on which we now focus the most is the lack of collegiality and solidarity among European member states, particularly when it comes to supporting a colleague or number of colleagues who may be in difficulty. Any organisation is only as good as it functions in a crisis. Unfortunately, the crisis that has beset the European Union is something the administration has struggled with. The European Commission has struggled and sought to do the right thing but not all member states, or at least not all representatives of member states, appear to be familiar with that concept.

One can talk about stronger links and indeed, the Commissioner was here a few weeks ago discussing just that. We agree that forging stronger links and greater integration are important. However, at the same time we hear on a daily basis members of the parliaments of various member states putting forward less than helpful suggestions, which irritate our electorate to a huge extent and, indeed, annoy them intensely. I suggest that as a priority we need to re-establish trust between the member states. We need to establish the collegiality and solidarity that Mr. Barroso has spoken about on many occasions. I am sure he also becomes very frustrated when he sees how some member states behave and react.

We have spoken in the past of the need for member states to stand together. There is no benefit in member states' scoring political points at each other's expense for whatever reason, and particularly for domestic political reasons. We seem to have adopted the worst aspects of the US system. For instance, the US has a single currency, but we have member states promoting the benefits of a multiplicity of currencies within the European Union. If there were a multiplicity of currencies within the United States of America, would it work? My belief is that it would not. One of the principal weaknesses of the US system is the mid-term elections, which invariably mean that any constructive programme that is being undertaken by the Government is snared and falls by the wayside. Perhaps the time has come for European member states to have domestic elections on the same day or as near as possible to the same day throughout Europe. At least then we could all be seen to be functioning together.

The disaffection mentioned by Mr. Casini is palpable at the moment. Ireland is in a severe programme at present and has no way out of it. Our domestic population is carrying an enormous burden and is doing so bravely. We fought a referendum campaign just six months ago at a very difficult time for this country and won, against all the odds. In those circumstances, we need recognition for our efforts instead of destructive comment, much of which comes on a fairly regular basis. I do not need to go further on that point.