Mr. Matt Carthy:

Undoubtedly, people looked at the actions of the European Union in Greece and its refusal to heed other national democratic messages. We do not know the overall percentage who were disillusioned at the direction the European Union was taking in latter years, but we can assume that it was more than 3%, which was the difference between winning and losing in the referendum. I argue, therefore, that we need to learn the lessons.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan also stated we needed to make a decision on whether we were all moving in the same direction or in different directions on whether we should have European Union representatives across member states. The secret of the success of the European Union lies in the fact that we have the maturity to agree that there are areas in which we should all move forward together and also areas in which there are national priorities which will trump EU priorities and that national governments should have the ability and the freedom to decide what they shoould do in those instances. We need to be honest with ourselves in all matters.

In response to Senator Gerard P. Craughwell's points about PESCO and whether it is a stepping stone to an EU army, almost every other member state that has signed up to it refer to it as a stepping stone to an EU army, yet in Ireland we are supposed to expect that it is something different. We should be honest and say that is what it has been sold and championed as.

Obviously, I do not have time to deal with all of the other points made by the Senator, but I suggest that if President Higgins is to seek a second term, he should replay the comments made by the Senator and that he will not face much opposition in the ballot box.

My final statement is on the future of the European Union, the debates on which provide an opportunity. Thus far, they have not be capitalised. If they do not include space for critical keynote speeches by those who have a different view on issues of concern to citizens within the European Union such as membership of PESCO and trade, they will have been a missed opportunity.

On a positive note, I can speak on behalf of all Irish MEPs when I say we are in absolute agreement that the next speaker, the European Ombudsman, Ms O'Reilly, is doing a magnificent job and that we are very proud of her. She is not afraid to be critical and stand up to the most powerful interests within the European institutions when required. That should be noted.