Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the Chairman and colleagues in wishing the Minister of State well in her new role which I have no doubt her excellent abilities will enable her to perform very well. There are a number of issues arising from her contribution, one of which is the migration crisis. It was very disappointing to hear some of the recent comments made by countries. I fully understand that for ones directly affected, it is very difficult to deal with the inflow, but, collectively, the European Union has an incredible responsibility. We are dealing daily with men, women and children's lives and it is one of the most defining issues on which it will be judged. It is at the heart of what it is supposed to be about in terms of how we treat people. The last thing we want to see happen is future generations to look back and ask the question that has been asked: how could people enjoy their lovely holidays on the shores of the Mediterranean in the months of July and August at a time when the Governments of those countries were allowing people to die? As a country, we have made a tremendous effort. We have to acknowledge the deployment of the Naval Service and other members of the Defence Forces and the role they have played, but, collectively, EU member states need to do more. There is a need for a greater integrated response because one life lost is one too many and thousands dying is almost becoming a non-story for the media. We should never forget what is happening.

Senator Neal Richmond has mentioned the other point I want to raise. I welcome the restatement of our commitment to the European Union. It should not be necessary to do so, but it is. It is regrettable there are people who, for whatever reason, are willing to sell a story to which there is no logic that this country would somehow benefit from being outside the European Union. There has always been a cohort who are negative about or anti-the European Union. We, therefore, need to redouble our efforts, particularly in the process of looking at and shaping the future of the European Union, and restate the central benefits to the country, its economy and future, of membership of the Union. In Britain there has always been a very strong anti-EU group. Eventually there was a referendum that took it out of the European Union. Britain played a central role with us as members of the European Union in terms of the way we sought to shape it with the rest of our European partners. Shaping it is one of the greatest challenges facing the Government, in the next stage of which the pro-EU voice in Britain will be missing. Britain does not acknowledge its achievements within the Europe Union, particularly in its enlargement and expansion. As a country, we need to look at how we, without the British voice, can redouble our efforts to make sure the future shape of the European Union reflects the interests of all mainland Europe countries and will take account of what it is like to be a country on the periphery or at the very edge of Europe.