Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister to the committee. I note his comments on the degree of co-operation between the two Governments. There is considerable scope for even greater improvement in that area as time goes by, particularly in the all-island of Ireland context. Significant benefits can accrue to both sides of this island and also to the UK.

Mr. Lidington referred to the implications for Ireland and the UK and also flexibility and the Single Market. Flexibility has a different meaning for different people. I have read extensively about the extent to which some member states - not exclusively the UK - regard flexibility as a one-way ticket. That is not the way, of course, as it must work in both directions. I would advise against reverting to the old-fashioned trade agreements as opposed to the integrated European project. I refer to the degree to which individual European countries wish to go in a direction of their own choosing. That is not in concert with the European project nor is it in concert with good management of an amalgamation of nations, physically, politically, socially or economically. In particular, in the current economic climate, it is hugely important that each member state both inside and outside the eurozone, recognises the importance for each state, individually and collectively, of staying in the one direction, keeping the emphasis and the focus in one area and utilising for the benefit of Europe and the people of Europe the huge market influence which the population of 500 million can have. To what extent does Mr. Lidington and his colleagues in the European Union regard themselves as capitalising on the power and influence of the European consumer market while balancing that against the competitiveness to which he referred in the context of competing with the new developing countries?

My final point is about my old hobby horse of the currency.

I am and always have been strongly of the view that the European Union will not succeed unless and until the single currency is adopted by all member states. In this context, I point to the example of the United States, as others and I have done on many occasions. If that country did not have a single currency in the current economic climate, its position would be much worse. By the same token, our situation in Europe would be much better if we did not have a multiplicity of currencies within the Union. I returned last weekend from a visit to one of the EU countries which has retained its own currency. The lack of uniformity does not work for business, tourism or the exchange of goods and services. It works for nothing. Instead, it imposes an additional burden on those participating in the economy. I could talk about this issue all day, but the Chairman will be pleased to hear that I do not intend to do so.