Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

When eminent commentators such as former Commissioner Sutherland castigate the Government over its position, it is time to sit up and take notice. I put more faith in what Mr. Sutherland has to say than in many of the commentators defending the Government position.

We have benefited hugely from Europe. If, however, we want to talk about the Government moving away from centre stage in terms of the European debate, we need only look at the recent debacle at European level on the part of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the GM food issue. One swallow does not make a summer but when that was followed by this proposal and the way it has been handled, ignoring the voice of the people in Dáil Éireann, a trend can be seen emerging. We must be cognisant of what happened with the Nice treaty when people perceived a lack of commitment. Fine Gael has always been in the European mainstream and while we will support this, we do so with reservations.

The Government has done the nation a disservice in terms of how it handled this matter at European level. We do not want to be À la carte Europeans. The pick and choose attitude that Tony Blair thinks serves British interests will not serve Irish interests. This is a backward step.

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