Mr. Michael Murphy:

I will address a couple of points, specifically Senator Coghlan's comments on the rise of populism and the disconnect between the citizen and the European Union. I try to knock on doors as often as I can and when I do so I find that citizens are always preoccupied with what they perceive as national issues, job security and infrastructural deficits, for example, in broadband or roads. The irony is that the European Union plays such a key role in addressing those concerns. The issue, therefore, is to convince citizens and communicate to them at every opportunity about this important role, for example, with regard to funding for broadband from the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF. I met the Commissioner on Monday and we spoke about LEADER funding. If we had here ten organisations that had received funding from LEADER, very few of them would be aware of the origin of LEADER funding. I am often critical of local authorities because while they are well able to hand out LEADER funding, they rarely make the link between the European Union and the LEADER programme. It is incumbent on all of us at subnational level, particularly on us as members of the Committee of the Regions, to communicate to citizens a positive message about the role the European Union plays in addressing concerns that they perceive only national governments can address.

Deputy Mattie McGrath referred to competition policy, which is a bit of a hobby-horse of mine. This comes back again to the citizen. One of the benefits of Ireland's EU membership has been access to the Single Market. The Directorate General for Competition has been highly effective in ensuring fair and effective competition. When it comes to addressing the infrastructural deficit that has arisen as a consequence of the financial crisis, I am often critical. We have a big gap to bridge in the coming years and we need greater flexibility in the application of state aid rules. I believe there are solutions to the crisis with the national broadband plan, but they will require greater flexibility in state aid rules and by the Commission for Communications Regulation.

With regard to the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, there is a real challenge and debate to be had on the multi-annual financial framework. There is a challenge insofar as there will no longer be a contribution from the UK. Other challenges are migration and security. The Irish delegation has been consistent in calling for the maintenance and preservation of the CAP budget. I acknowledge there has been 6% cut in CAP, but there are some good measures within CAP around greater flexibility for member states and for young farmers. My co-ordinator has just reminded me that we are due to debate the CAP at our plenary session in December. I assure Deputy Haughey that we will be very active in that debate and we will call for the CAP to be maintained.