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

I wish to add one thing that I thought was interesting. On a recent visit to Brussels, we talked to the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. We then effectively met the Northern Ireland Office. It does an inter-staff transfer to facilitate that deepening of ties and understanding. Somebody from the Northern Ireland Office works in the perm rep and somebody from the perm rep works in the Northern Ireland Office perhaps for a six-month transfer. That gives a deeper knowledge and ability to work together on the island issues that come up all the time.

In conclusion, I thank Mr. Ahern for coming in today. One of the really positive things about a discussion like this is that in the context of European politics within our own country, we can see a real depth of agreement and a common place, which we take by and large, and overwhelmingly, to our relationship with Europe and how we work that relationship with Europe for the benefit of both Europe and Ireland. It is vitally important we have that.

There are many points I could try to take up but I will not do so because I do not want to delay things further. The depth of knowledge Mr. Ahern has, which we appreciate he is sharing with us, is important for us, particularly in our work on future enlargement. There cannot be a successful European Union going into this century without the work that is taking place today. Right across Europe, other countries and member states could perhaps do with the ability to look back to their own statesmen and stateswomen from various eras past who contributed to building the Europe we have today, which most people will acknowledge is a success. Everything has its flaws but it has been hugely successful. It remains the most successful peace initiative the world has ever seen in terms of preventing the type of European conflicts we saw on such a regular basis until the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in the 1950s.

I thank Mr. Ahern for his contribution. It has been a useful meeting of our committee. I thank the members for their contributions as well. In drawing our meeting to a conclusion, we will adjourn until Wednesday, 15 May at 10 a.m.