Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I support the motion to form a sub-committee, which shall be called the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union, and regarding the appointment of members to the Select Committee on European Affairs.

Today is an important day for the Oireachtas and for our country's future in the European Union. The sub-committee will have a key contribution to make as we seek to chart a way forward for Ireland in Europe in the wake of our referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

The sub-committee is to be tasked by the Houses of the Oireachtas with the following: to analyse the challenges facing Ireland in the European Union following the Lisbon treaty referendum result; to consider Ireland's future in the European Union, including in regard to economic and financial matters, social policy, defence and foreign policy and our influence within the European institutions; to make recommendations to enhance the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas in European Union affairs; and to consider measures to improve public understanding of the European Union and its fundamental importance for Ireland's future.

We are creating an inclusive political process to examine the options and challenges facing us in Europe. The sub-committee will be expected to produce its report by the end of November so that its report will be available to Government. By establishing the sub-committee we are collectively resolving to address in a serious way the issues that were central to the referendum in June. Whatever happens in the months ahead, there is a responsibility on us to achieve the fullest possible understanding of public attitudes towards the European Union and to decide how we can best secure Ireland's vital European interests.

In the lead-up to the referendum in June we experienced a hard-fought campaign. For the Government's part, it is not our intention that the new sub-committee should rake over the referendum campaign. That is not why it is being established. I believe we can start from a positive place. The results of the recent research into Irish people's attitudes to the European Union show that we want Ireland to continue to be fully involved in the Union. A total of 70% of us agree that membership is a good thing, while a mere 8% disagree. The referendum campaign has not shaken Ireland's belief in the Union and we should take encouragement from that. What we must do first is fully respect people's concerns, second, seek to understand the motivation behind them and, third, reflect deeply together on how we can best respond to them.

I stress that the Government has no preconceived outcomes in mind for the sub-committee. There is a need for serious, inclusive political debate on Ireland's future in the European Union, the role we play in it and the role it plays in our lives. That is why I have proposed that the Oireachtas has a role in addressing key issues pertaining to our membership of the European Union. The task ahead is a serious one with far-reaching consequences. It demands that we embark on a calm, considered debate. Ultimately, we must come together to map out a future course that is best for us as a nation, but we must also be acutely aware of the enormous benefits that European Union membership has brought to Ireland.

At its most fundamental, I believe that since membership in 1973, Ireland's sovereignty has been developed and enhanced. From being directly dependent on Britain, our economy has been transformed, with our exports diversified to a range of markets worldwide. We are all aware of the hugely positive impact of membership on our agricultural sector. Ireland has also become a key location for inward investment, with Irish jobs being created and underpinned as a result. The role of the ECB has also been an important one in the present uncertain financial climate. Across the board, therefore, in the economic, social and political fields, I believe that membership has been fundamentally good for all our citizens. In short, the vibrant Irish society we have today would be unthinkable without our central involvement in the European Union.

It goes without saying, therefore, that I am fully committed to Ireland remaining centrally involved in the European Union for the sake of our economic well-being and because I believe that treaty-based arrangements between sovereign States offer the best guarantee that the interests of small countries will be taken into account. I hope that the work of the sub-committee in the weeks ahead will help shed some light on that and point the way to solutions.

I am particularly pleased that the crucial task of charting a way forward for Ireland in Europe is being undertaken by an all-party committee of the Oireachtas. There can be no better forum for conducting this vital national task. Our future well-being depends on finding the solution that is best for Ireland and that can be endorsed by our European partners. I commend the excellent work that has already been carried out by the Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny and their Chairmen, both of whom have produced quality reports and recommendations on ways in which the Oireachtas can give the European Union-related aspects of its work greater significance.

The referendum, and the research carried out since the result, has shown there is deep concern about the gap that is perceived to have grown up between the institutions of the European Union and the people of Europe. National parliaments have a key role to play in bridging the divide. The work in the new Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union will focus on ways to enhance the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas in European Union affairs. I am very happy that we are setting the foundations for a democratic, inclusive process that will lead to thoughtful and considered proposals for the best way forward for Ireland at this challenging time in the global economy. The Union has been a powerful force for good for Ireland and for Europe. Public opinion in Ireland, notwithstanding the recent referendum result, remains hugely positive towards Europe and the values it espouses in a swiftly changing world.

The importance of the work of the sub-committee should not be underestimated. We cannot pretend that our position in the Union has been unaffected by the outcome of the referendum. Nor can we pretend the result has gone unnoticed in the wider world beyond Europe, particularly the international investment community. In New York last week that point was made to me by several influential members of the business community. It is a collective problem to which all 27 governments need to find a solution. The concerns expressed by the Irish people on 12 June are real and they need to be addressed. The Government and our partners want to see those concerns addressed. I encourage the sub-committee to maximise the time available at this crucial juncture. I encourage it to invite and engage with people who have an expertise in European Union affairs and who have Ireland's best interests at heart. I hope the media will devote serious coverage to the sub-committee's work and to the evidence of the experts who appear before it.

I am convinced that our people want Ireland to fight for their interests at the heart of Europe and from a position of strength. What we need to do is to devote our energies to address the legitimate concerns of our people and to find a satisfactory solution that will secure Ireland's interests. The work of the sub-committee can play a substantive part in the future direction we take. Its deliberations will be open and inclusive. It can address the many questions and concerns that were raised during the debate leading to the referendum — for example, economic issues, social and moral issues, political issues, neutrality and the European Commission. I wish the sub-committee well in its important work.

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