Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

One of my Dáil colleagues said a woman had told him, "I trust you, but I don't trust those other people, as they will give us abortion." These serious matters were alleged by people who were well funded to put up posters throughout the country. That is a great pity.

I wish to comment on the Commissioner issue. There are 27 members of the Commission and, to be frank, there is not a substantial job for all of them. That is the reality. It would be much better for Ireland to have a Commissioner for ten out of every 15 years with a substantial portfolio. The Commission operates on the basis of qualified majority voting. The idea that having somebody there, regardless of what portfolio they hold, is a success is naive. The United States of America which has a population of 300 million has 15 departments of state. Commissioners need to have a meaningful role, whether they are nominated from Ireland or elsewhere.

It is good that we are having this debate. It is good from the Taoiseach's perspective and that of the country. This matter has been debated elsewhere, including in the European Parliament, although I regret some of the comments made there today about the Irish Commissioner, all of which is unhelpful. The last thing those who are pro-Europe need to do is turn on each other. We need to work together as good colleagues in a spirit of solidarity to find an answer to the result that the people delivered last Thursday. The sooner we can turn our collective minds to this, the better.

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