Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

General Affairs Council: Discussion with Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

11:00 am

Photo of Eric ByrneEric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is more than welcome to the meeting. I remind him that this committee dealt with the Committee of the Affairs of the European Union from the Bundestag. We made impassioned requests for its understanding and support for this country in the next while, particularly in respect of the financial implications of the banking situation. Hopefully, we convinced it to be more enlightened and supportive of us.

This is an extremely challenging and exciting time for Ireland to take up the EU Presidency. While the role is very demanding, it represents a phenomenally progressive potential for Ireland Inc.

I welcome that Croatia has come on board completely. It is interesting to look at the Serbs and at what is happening in Kosovo. Hopefully things will evolve progressively in that region. I am particularly interested in Albania, which was one of the most closed societies in the world formerly, second to North Korea. It has now progressed to the stage where it can take part in the accession process. We will monitor through the OSCE this year's elections in Albania to ensure that they meet the criteria laid down. My one worry is Bosnia and Herzegovina. There remains a protracted difficulty in that region. It is very sad that they have not moved at the pace of their neighbours. I wish the Tánaiste well in working on that.

I congratulate the Tánaiste for noting the most important issues of stability, jobs and growth in the European Union. The youth employment package is of tremendous importance. It is of perhaps greater importance to partners of ours in Europe. We have a highly educated workforce with 80% of citizens obtaining a third level education, which gives them superior job prospects to those of people in Spain, which has perhaps 50% youth unemployment. Sovereignty and how we handle debt and promissory notes are important. The Tánaiste covered that.

Stability was the first issue the Tánaiste mentioned. I presume he meant the stability of Europe. I am amazed and shocked at the damage to his own case Prime Minister David Cameron has done regarding his proposals for a referendum. Perhaps the Department of Foreign Affairs will have time to examine the ramifications for Ireland as a divided, partitioned country. The Northern counties are in the sterling area but we are happily in the European Union together. If the United Kingdom pulled out, it would create a border not only with the sterling area, but with the European Union.

To conclude, I wish Ireland Inc. well during the Presidency.

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