Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Nesirky and Ms Mulhall for their presentation. The National Youth Council of Ireland is the first delegation to make a presentation as part of our work programme on this issue, and that is very appropriate. I note what they had to say about social issues and a social Europe. That was a central theme coming through in their remarks. They mentioned all the big issues of the day: youth unemployment, which is a big issue for Europe and, while not as big a problem in Ireland, one which obviously needs to be dealt with all the same, climate change, migration and so forth. When we were talking outside they said they would not mention Brexit, and in one way that is a good thing in that we are moving on, but it is a fact that young people in the United Kingdom wholeheartedly supported the Remain campaign.

We should be conscious that young people see the EU as central to their future. The European Union has brought about peace, prosperity and progress for many decades. Obviously, young people would not remember the wars but it is clear to them that the European Union brings peace, prosperity and progress.

There is a movement towards greater integration and more enhanced co-operation in respect of defence and corporate tax harmonisation. These signals are coming from the Franco-German alliance at the core of the European Union. Does the National Youth Council of Ireland have a policy on Irish neutrality? Certainly many people would be proud of the role we have played in foreign affairs in the United Nations, promoting peace and justice, basic human rights throughout the world and engaging in peacekeeping as part of a UN mandate. Do they have a view on that in the context of talks about a more militarised European Union in the future?