Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am delighted to mark the occasion of Europe Day, a celebration of what Europe, once a continent at war with itself, can do when it comes together to face our challenges. Facing adversity united and strengthened is nothing at all new for the European project. It is what we have done since the Union's foundation. Despite many predictions of doom or imminent downfall, including from within this House, Europe has weathered many ups and downs, building post-war economic recovery, surviving the oil crises, celebrating the post-communist reunification of Europe and enduring the current economic and financial crisis. Throughout, Europe has shown time and again that it is a vital part of any durable solution.

Working together, the EU and its member states have shaped a more positive future, be it through representation at key international negotiations on trade, economics or environmental issues. When Europe speaks with one coherent voice, the rest of the world listens. Ireland has tried isolationism and it was a dismal failure. Its effects were stifling not just in terms of our economy but also in terms of our society. This is something we must not allow to happen again.

I believe fundamentally that our membership of the European Union over the past 40 years has enabled Ireland to find her voice in our Continent and in the world. It has allowed us to become the diversified trading nation we are today through an internal Single Market of more than 500 million people and the negotiation of trade deals with third countries. This ability to export will drive our recovery. Similarly, the past four decades have witnessed a welcome opening up of Irish society. Whether on the rights of women, consumer welfare or environmental protection, our EU membership has served as the critical catalyst for change and progress. The impact of our EU membership on Ireland's social development is arguably even more of a recognisable legacy than the many positive evolutions which have marked our economic progress since 1973.

The immediate challenge facing Ireland and Europe is the continuing economic and financial crisis. Since coming to office 15 months ago, this Government has taken decisive steps to get Ireland back on a path to regaining our economic sovereignty by re-capitalising and restructuring of our banking sector; bringing order to the public finances; introducing a range of measures aimed at restoring economic growth and getting our people back to work; and rebuilding our international reputation. In each of these areas we have worked closely and constructively with our EU and international partners. The progress has been hard won but it is now recognised internationally, especially within the financial markets.

What Ireland and Europe now need is stability for our economies and, particularly, for our currency. The instability which we have witnessed since the outset of the crisis has been detrimental to investment and bad for jobs. The stability treaty on which our people will vote on 31 May represents an important element in our efforts to restore stability to Europe and the euro. This is our euro. It is our currency. Nobody in this Government has suggested that the treaty represents the whole story. This treaty is a necessary but not sufficient component of the response. The ratification and subsequent implementation of the treaty will present us with a golden opportunity to ensure that all member states deliver on their commitments. This will go a long way towards restoring stability to Ireland and Europe.

However, the sensible budgeting regime which the treaty codifies is only part of the solution, The key additional step which this Government has been vocally advocating at European level for many months is growth. We need sustainable growth for a true return to stability. Similarly, however, stability is the essential foundation on which to build growth and job creation. Stability and growth are two sides of the same coin. They should be understood as complementary rather than alternatives. I warmly welcome the renewed focus which is now being placed on the growth and jobs agenda and was pleased to congratulate French President-elect Hollande at the weekend. We look forward to working urgently with partners on this agenda and the Taoiseach will do this when he attends an informal meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 23 May. Growth will be at the top of the agenda.

There is no contradiction between an approach which seeks stability and one which works to ensure growth. That is an entirely consistent approach, and one which this Government shares. I look forward to Ireland taking another important step on the road to recovery on 31 May, with a clear signal that we

will continue to support stability and growth for our own country, for the euro area and for the European Union.

See this speech in context