Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The economic and monetary union, and particularly the banking union, is something we have agreed to and supported all along. The Irish Presidency was very supportive. After our exit from the bailout programme we would like some of the benefits of the thinking that went into the European banking union and economic governance. We hope to receive the benefit of the doubt regarding measures that are likely to be necessary throughout the EU in individual member states. That specifically refers to the Irish situation, because we have a general idea that we will be alone again. We have done everything necessary and made all the sacrifices, and we will continue to do so.

Some commentators said this will mean nothing to us, but it is very significant. An exit means we have achieved our targets. It is our first goal in the aftermath of the economic collapse. I would like to think that, far from being critical, all our European colleagues would recognise the major sacrifices made here and that it may be necessary to give this country the benefit of some of the matters we have aspired to and spoken in favour of, particularly in the context of the passage of the referendum on the fiscal stability pact.

Similarly, regarding European economic governance, it is necessary that Europe progresses in a particular direction and that there be a degree of emphasis on certain regions as opposed to others where particular measures may be needed to achieve the kind of cohesiveness and balance necessary. I hope that can be done in the context of what we are proceeding with.

Regarding the social and economic monetary union, we must achieve a greater degree of political cohesion and commitment. I say that against a backdrop in which some countries - one in particular - are having second thoughts. In the event of progress in that direction, there will be severe and serious consequences for the rest of the EU, including this country. I hope the social dimension of economic and monetary union, which is a priority, will have the added dimension of a political commitment that will have the benefit of bringing the EU countries into step, moving in unison and in the same direction towards a common goal, which has been missing in certain areas for the past number of years.

One criticism of the youth guarantee is that it will have no impact. We believe it will have an impact, but we must make it work, and quickly. It must be obvious to everybody that it is working. If a body as large and powerful as the EU comes together and decides on a particular agenda it must make it work. That is very important for future social and economic stability.

Innovation and the digital economy is very important, but in this and other European countries there is, obviously, a reliance on the telecommunications sector as a foundation stone. To what extent has the universal delivery of high-standard telecommunications throughout Europe been achieved without exception? Not many years ago, some of our European colleagues had very archaic mobile telephone and data systems. In some cases they have made dramatic progress. There are some serious deficiencies in this country's system - for example, there are businesses in which people have to move equipment around the premises to get a broadband connection. That should not be the case. To be able to capitalise nationally and throughout Europe on the benefits of modern technology, we must have the services available without exception across the board. We must do whatever is required to be done as a matter of urgency.

Energy is a very serious issue.

It is imperative for national governments and the European institutions that clear evidence be made available through their respective avenues to the general public to illustrate the benefits of the energy policy pursued by the European Union in terms of cost and health and safety. There must be an evaluation of the difference between nuclear energy and alternative energy. We need to be able to get this across to our communities, particularly at this moment, because a debate is taking place on those issues now. There is a dearth of the impartial evidence, which we need to be able to draw on in order to advise ourselves and our constituents.

On a final point, I cannot let the moment pass without making reference to the external agenda. I welcome the €10 million committed to the Philippines. I feel that as large and as powerful as the EU is, it needs to be able to respond much more rapidly than it has done and needs to be able to co-ordinate global efforts towards offering assistance in places where natural or other disasters take place. The disaster at Fukushima two years ago and the situation in the Philippines at present are both the result of natural disasters that have caused appalling death and devastation. We need to be at the forefront. I know we are the greatest donors but that is not enough. We need to be able to co-ordinate and to set an example. We need to be seen to be in there at an early stage. Part of the PR game should be that we are in there at a very early stage and seen to be assisting. The EU has a number of NATO countries with heavy lifting and logistics capacity and we need to use that. I will conclude and leave other issues until another meeting.