Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

It appears the European Council meeting was very reactive to the situation in Portugal. It appears also that a large country must be affected before one looks at the vision for the European Union. From where will leadership be given? It appears member states are taking a unilateral approach to crises as they emerge. Did the Tánaiste receive any indication on from where the leadership would be given to address this issue in looking at the big picture? If we are to get out of this problem, the European Union, although part of it, will have to be part of the solution. We must see where that vision will take us. I see only a very reactive approach being taken in moving from one crisis to another. Could we provide some leadership in the matter?

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