Ms Suzanne Lynch:

I will start on that final point. One of the things I did not touch on is the new issues for the next five years. We all know that water charges featured in the debates on the European elections. Obviously that has nothing to do with the European Parliament. We are one country out of the 28 member states and there were different issues on the doorsteps in other countries, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP. We are quite aware of the TTIP negotiations in Ireland and the farming lobby is quite strong on this issue, but in Germany and Austria it was an issue on the doorsteps. The German people are very aware of this agreement and very against it. I am generalising slightly but Angela Merkel brought it up with Obama at the G7, referring to chlorinated chicken. An Irishman will be leading these negotiations for the EU over the next five years. It is a significant issue and definitely there must be more public awareness of it. In one of our own media outlets, a Deputy was reported speaking of the positive benefits it will have for business in Ireland. One would not be having the same conversation in Germany, Austria and countries like that.

I know from talking to journalists there that it is a huge issue.

Immigration is another issue that explains the Eurosceptic vote. It is not an issue here to the same extent. People might feel uncomfortable about the reality that it is a huge issue. If one turns on a current affairs television programme in France, it is likely that one will see people talking about Islam and about immigration. I recently visited a refugee camp in Bulgaria that is accommodating immigrants coming in through Syria. This is a huge issue in Greece. Approximately 90% of immigrants come in through Greece. Immigration will be a huge issue during the forthcoming Italian Presidency of the European Union. We seem to be missing this in Ireland.

Data protection is another issue that could have implications for us. Germany is really interested in it. The revelations about Snowden will impinge on the EU-US trade talks as well. This could have implications for Ireland down the line, given that we host many Internet companies. Many of them have their European headquarters here. This issue will be one to watch in the next five years.

I would like to mention another matter that is potentially worrying for Ireland. Olli Rehn, who is the outgoing Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and who played a crucial role in the Irish bailout, will have an even bigger role now that he has been elected to the European Parliament. Obviously, he is extremely experienced. Two weeks ago, he told a breakfast briefing in Brussels, which was organised by European Movement Ireland, that corporation tax and aggressive tax planning was an issue on the doorsteps when he was campaigning in Finland.