Ms Mairead McGuinness:

I will start at the end and pick up a point that my colleague, Mr. Matt Carthy MEP, mentioned about the all-Ireland approach. I compliment the Government because every month we have a Minister present and all the MEPs on the island of Ireland are invited for an effective working lunch.

I also wish to mention my role as a children's rights mediator whereby we try to settle cross-border disputes involving children. Forced adoptions in EU member states - some close to us - constitute an issue that has only come to my attention recently. The committee should watch out for this significant issue which I am currently working on.

Let me be clear for Deputy Durkan in that we are neither energy efficient nor self-sufficient. Efficiency is an area on which we must work. I would like to see a calmer debate on energy in Ireland, which is more focused on the future. Tragically, the energy debate rests on infrastructure, pylons, wind farms and upsetting rural communities. It is not about the big project which is an interconnected grid. Some Oireachtas committee should start to lead that debate which needs to take place.

The Deputy's concerns for carbon reduction in agriculture are well made. They have been met by the statement which the Taoiseach stitched into the Council's proceedings whereby the food security issue is being taken into account.

With regard to Europe being a strong global player, I disagree with Mr. Matt Carthy, MEP, in so far as sometimes we have to pick and choose. However, it is too big an area in which to say: "We're grand on our own, but at other times we can be with you." Of course, we need to be conscious of Irish concerns but Europe has a strong role to play as the European Union. It can be much more effective if it works as a union.

I am concerned about what happened when Greece withdrew its name on the Russian issue that Deputy Eric Byrne raised. In addition, the Greek election was mentioned. As with every member state that holds an election, we welcome the new government to the table. The new Greek Government has made commitments to its electorate and it will be that government's responsibility to see how they are delivered upon. Europe works on the basis of consensus and discussion.

I welcome Deputy Crowe's comments on communications and development. I hope we can do that. He said that these tragedies are not on our shores, but I regard the EU's shores as ours. We do not talk about it enough here, although I am glad it has happened at this forum.

Sometimes we dread having to make the time to come to these meetings, because we are busy. When we are here, though, they are very important. I thank the committee for inviting us and for giving us the opportunity.