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

I warmly welcome the Minister, Mr. Lidington. We are delighted to extend the hand of friendship and a heartfelt céad míle fáilte. As politicians, regardless of whether we have differing views on the current course and future direction of the European Union, we know that our two nations are bound together almost in an umbilical way. Our fantastic trade relations are only one aspect of our mutual dependence. Given that the northern part of the island is administered from Westminster, the prospect of an in-out referendum in the United Kingdom is of great concern to many in this country. If the UK electorate chooses to opt out of the European Union, the Republic will remain within it and using the euro, while our neighbours north of the Border will be outside it and continuing to use sterling.

The European Union is of huge importance to us in Ireland. Notwithstanding a difficult political relationship in the past, the close bond between our two countries is reflected in such issues as our shared position on the Schengen agreement. That very important agreement means we have a particular relationship on the movement of peoples. For these and many other reasons, we are saddened at the prospect of the British Government choosing at some point in the future to adopt an out-of-European Union strategy. Members of the Oireachtas constantly debate European issues, including the benefits to Ireland of its membership of the Union, in both Houses and committees. As politicians in a republic with a written constitution, we are fortunate to have had the opportunity to engage with the electorate on very complex issues. When one has to engage with the common man and woman on the intricacies of the fiscal treaty or the treaties of Maastricht, Lisbon or Nice, sometimes on more than one occasion in each case, there is an opportunity to develop a level of discourse on these matters which our counterparts in Great Britain may not have enjoyed.

I am surprised and disappointed that Britain, as a former imperial nation with a hugely diverse population that has arisen, at least in part, from its obligation to accommodate so many people, whether they be Indians from Uganda or others, should express such grave concerns about the implications of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

Deputy Eric Byrne: I warmly welcome the Minister, Mr. Lidington, to the committee. We are delighted to extend the hand of friendship and a céad míle failte to him. Regardless of whether we differ politically in terms of the current course and future direction of the European Union, our two nations remain bound together by an umbilical together. Our fantastic trade relations and the fact that the northern part of our island is administered by Westminster. The in-out referendum is of great concern to many of us