Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the work being done by ICTU, IBEC and Mr. Miley's organisation. The work they are doing with our permanent staff in Brussels is absolutely vital. This is a major change. The influence of the unions, business representatives and universities as they work together on behalf of Ireland is very important. They receive excellent co-operation from the permanent representatives in Brussels.

A delegation from the committee has just returned from a COSAC meeting in Romania. I mention this to bring the delegates up to speed on the Erasmus programme. An amendment proposed at the meeting would have affected the future expansion of the programme. Many of the members of this committee are keen to ensure it will not be confined to university graduates. Like many others, my daughter has availed of the Erasmus programme which embraces all 28 countries. Erasmus and the Common Agricultural Policy are two of the best programmes to have been introduced by the European Union. I understands Britain intends to pay to remain in the Erasmus programme in the short term. It has been proposed that the programme be expanded to allow apprentices from here to travel elsewhere in Europe to learn new technologies in areas such as wind energy and solar panels. The amendment proposed yesterday would have meant that governments would be responsible for the expansion of the Erasmus programme. We did not agree with that amendment. My colleagues went back and said Erasmus must continue to be an EU programme and funded as an EU programme. It has been mentioned that 500,000 people have participated in it since 1987, which is an enormous number. When I was on an aeroplane yesterday, I spoke to a young doctor who had studied in Bari in Italy. That is an example of the comings and goings under this exchange programme. Many permanent unions and families have been formed from it. It has been suggested to me that it would be worthwhile for somebody to research this aspect of the programme. Perhaps the delegates have already carried out in-depth research into the effect it has had on all of Europe. Nothing has brought it closer. It is regrettable that the influence of students from the United Kingdom who have studied under the Erasmus programme in the past was not enough to change the minds of the people of the United Kingdom when they voted on Brexit. I am certain that those who participated in the programme voted to remain.

I thank the delegates for their efforts and worthwhile contribution to building links between organisations throughout Europe. I know from my experience at the Council of Ministers that representatives of the Government and Irish organisations have a large degree of influence in the European Union - our influence is above our weight - because of our style of contacts. Long may that continue. We will miss the United Kingdom when it leaves the European Union because it has been our ally at European level.