Dáil debates

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

European Council Meeting: Statements

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I echo the point made by Deputy Timmins regarding the deployment of a European Union battle group in Haiti. The Deputy always talks sense and this is an excellent and logical suggestion which the Government and the Commission should put forward via the Council. We must ensure we have the maximum impact in terms of saving lives and reducing the humanitarian disaster occurring in that country.

Will the Minister clarify an issue I raised with him before Christmas in regard to Ireland's commitment to assist developing countries in tackling climate change? The Taoiseach referred in his speech to the €100 million that has been committed for this purpose. Will the Minister clarify whether this sum will come from the Ireland Aid budget? Aid agencies deserve clarity in terms of their budgeting efforts for the year ahead.

Another important initiative that is clearly highlighted in the Council conclusions is the European external action service. This offers an important opportunity for the European Union to represent itself across the globe but also for Ireland to promote our diplomatic corps and its skills. I hope efforts are under way within Iveagh House and within Government to seek ways to encourage young Irish people to join the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, while it is important that we are well integrated into the new European external action service, it should not in any way supplant the Irish foreign service and the excellent work done by our embassy staff and diplomatic corps on behalf of the country.

The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, outlined the key elements of the 2010 strategy at a recent meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs. There was a strong view among committee members that this strategy presents an excellent opportunity to develop a ten-year plan for the future of the European economy. From an Irish point of view, it is desirable that emphasis be put on job protection and creation. An important element of that, as pointed out by many committee members, was to place some focus on manufacturing. As we have become almost obsessed with the concept of a smart economy, we have to some extent turned away from and neglected the manufacturing industry. The strategy represents a major opportunity for investment in infrastructure. In Ireland broadband is the key area in which that investment is required, and the 2020 strategy is an important part of that.

The citizens' initiative is being taken very seriously by the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs under the chairmanship of Deputy Durkan. The matter will be discussed at next Friday's meeting of the committee, which will be attended by MEPs, and we intend to open up that discussion to the public. It is an extremely important opportunity for the European Union to show, prove and demonstrate that it is trying hard to connect with its citizens and to open up the European Union for them. The initiative was almost dismissed during the campaign on the Lisbon treaty referendum by many on the "No" side who said that it was just a tokenistic gesture. I am pleased that it is being advanced so quickly by the Government and by the European Council. I hope we can ensure that it works by putting in place a clearly functioning system.

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