Ms Noelle O'Connell:

I thank the Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan, Deputy Haughey, Senator Richmond and Senator Craughwell for their comments and inputs. The Acting Chairman touched on a very important point in terms of European history. It goes to demonstrate and illustrate the importance, if ever it was needed, of how crucial it is that the subject of history is on the curriculum. I appreciate that probably is not a subject for this committee but it is one that we need to bear in mind and consider.

We might do our Cork two-hander and continue the winning formula. I will touch upon some of the topics that Senator Richmond picked up and address some of Deputy Haughey's valid points. On anything that I omit, I am sure my colleague, Mr. Keohane, will perform an excellent sweeper role on that policy side of things.

Senator Richmond raised an important point in terms of languages and the language barrier. This is something about which we in EM Ireland are incredibly exercised, along with our colleagues and partners in the Commission and the European Parliament, and obviously as are the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister. I refer to the area of the EU jobs committee and the work of encouraging and promoting a career in the European institutions as a viable and valuable career pipeline and career opportunity. That Irish pipeline is concerning. That is why concerted efforts are ongoing to ensure that language abilities are improved. However, the Senator is right. It is a challenge and something that needs more focus and support to be given to it.

The Permanent Representation in Brussels is doing a lot of work, but we need to figure out creative ways to enhance our collective efforts to ensure the Irish presence at all levels and in all institutions will continue to play an important role.

Deputy Haughey touched on the agenda for the debate on the future of Europe. I thank him for his ongoing support for and engagement in it. When we were in Letterkenny, Cork, Navan, Kilkenny and Wexford, the topics debated reinforced how important it was to listen to what people were saying and try to get their views and perspectives, for example, on defence, sustainability and climate change. The consistency in the level of concern expressed about climate change and sustainability was incredible wherever we engaged in dialogue on the future of Europe. It is important and clear that we cannot be complacent. If Brexit demonstrates anything, it is the impossibility of reversing over 40 years of negative discourse and diatribe. The engagement in Ireland on how we would like to shape our European Union membership must be constant. We have to view the engagement with citizens as an ongoing process, rather than as a stand-alone event, if we are to truly develop, articulate and defend a comprehensive Irish vision of the European Union in which we want to live.

I can empathise with the challenges mentioned by Deputy Haughey encountered in the European Parliament elections. Ours was one of the few organisations that invited all 59 candidates standing for election to the European Parliament to participate in a candidates debate to present their views and perspectives and say why they were standing for election. We did this as part of a series of three constituency debates and engagements. It was a challenge to move the debate to some of the non-local issues and focus on European issues. Nonetheless, it was an important and worthwhile exercise.

We were disappointed that this time around voter turnout dropped from 52% to 49.7%. It was the first time in 25 years that voter turnout in Ireland was below the overall EU average which stood at 51%, reversing the overall decline in voter turnout since the first European Parliament elections were held. We welcome the increase in voter turnout across the European Union. It is encouraging and a sign of greater citizen engagement, notwithstanding the challenges presented by populism that have been mentioned. Our civic objective and responsibility must be to work constructively with the committee and other partners to reverse the decline in voter turnout here in the next European Parliament elections.

That leads me on to what we are debating. Alliance building is not just an activity for our political leaders, politicians and Members of national parliaments, it is also part of a whole-of-Ireland approach. Whether it be civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, business groups, trade associations and chambers of commerce, there is a collective onus to include all sectors of Irish society in the dialogue on relationship building. European Movement Ireland is actively doing this with its counterparts in the European Movement International network which has a presence in over 40 countries as far as Azerbaijan. We also try to support and amplify the work being done by many other organisations and trade associations. It is a very important aspect of their work.

I will hand over to Mr. Keohane in case I have forgotten anything.