Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The last point Professor O'Brennan made is true. The number of European officials and MEPs who have been to Ireland on the Erasmus+ programme is substantial. I have yet to meet one who did not have something positive to say about Ireland. People are positively disposed to Ireland. That really does matter.

The point about the value of having Irish people in the Commission has to be seen as an investment by Government. When people go to work there they have to take on the European perspective. If they did otherwise, that would be completely negative. If every German worker took a German perspective, we know what would happen to us.