Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has asked three questions which I will try to address. On the role played by Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy, it is fair to say there has been widespread criticism of the European Union's capacity to respond in an efficient and speedy manner to the crisis that has engulfed us in the past two years. It is also fair to say neither the Union nor the eurozone was equipped to react and respond as quickly as possible. We can condemn the European institutions or whomsoever we like, but when one considers that there are 27 democracies, each operating an entirely different system, it is very difficult to come together on the basis of consensus and move forward. The lack of leadership has been constantly lamented. In the vacuum the German Chancellor has stepped forward to show leadership, which is important.

There has been cynicism, as well as scepticism, in the past six months, but much of what has been said has been disproved. Last November we were told by a reputable international newspaper, quoted regularly on the other side of the House, that the eurozone had ten days to survive. That was not true. Therefore, the criticism of France and Germany can be overstated. The reality is we have required leadership from all member states. It is quite obvious that the larger ones have been most in focus and in the headlines most but that is not to deny that there is a role for smaller member states. The institutional design will have to change. We have seen significant changes in the architecture of the Union, particularly in the eurozone, in how we function and deal with such crises and in the obligations we have as members of the eurozone. That will evolve in the years ahead. I hope that if the Union and, in particular, the eurozone, faces a crisis of this scale in the future, we will have the capacity through member states and the institutions to respond in a much more coherent fashion.

I agree with the Deputy regarding the need to communicate and educate our citizens but I do not agree with the contention that the Forum on Europe should be reinstated. I was a member of the forum and I enjoyed it greatly. I enjoyed the intellectual arguments but millions of euro were spent each year to create what was essentially a talking shop where people preached to each other. The outreach from the forum never reached its full potential and a forum of this nature cannot achieve that.

We can take many other initiatives. I have spearheaded the blue star programme in my Department. It was launched last week on a pilot basis and I feel passionately about it. I anticipate that between 30 and 40 schools will participate in the pilot, with a total of 100 schools having signed up for it. Secondary schools have contacted my office asking whether we can do something similar for them. Clearly, our resources are limited but there is huge scope for such educational programmes.

The Deputy referred to the reluctance of the Government to engage in the fiscal treaty debate. That is entirely untrue. I have travelled to different parts of the country and I have addressed fora organised in partnership with the European Commission office in Dublin and European Movement Ireland, which have been hugely successful. All my ministerial colleagues are available and they have been engaged in various media debates. I have attended the Seanad twice for debates on this matter and the Joint Committee on European Affairs. There is no shortage of willingness to engage on the part of the Government.

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