Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

The Lisbon Agenda is very much a citizens' charter for employment, social cohesion, sustainable development and growth. From that point of view it is at the core of where the European Union is trying to go. Since it has been agreed, however, we have had the rejection of the Nice treaty in this country, and the second vote. In addition, France and the Netherlands have rejected the European Constitution, so there is a strong level of disillusionment concerning how the citizens of Europe are treated. There is a perception that they are not getting a fair deal and that in many cases Europe is somewhat irrelevant in the manner in which it is progressing, and is not responding to bread and butter issues of public concern. We have responded by establishing a national forum on Europe.

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