Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Dublin MEPs to the committee. Some very interesting and thought-provoking comments have been made. The issue of the common EU defence policy should be debated. I agree with Gay Mitchell's comments on the developing world. With the election of a new Pope, there may be a change in the church teaching on contraception and with reduced family size, the economic problems resulting from over population may be curtailed in the Third World, which is Catholic. Ms Costello also mentioned solidarity. Considering that we are spending 83% on health, social welfare and education and borrowing the money to do so, how much more can we do in terms of solidarity with the poorest in society?

Notwithstanding that Paul Murphy is an MEP, does he believe in the European Union and does he agree that Ireland as well as Europe have benefited from the EC and EU since its inception vis-à-vis the relative positions of Ireland and Europe prior to our joining it?