Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Irish voters, with no difficulty, said they are in a difficult spot, recognised the writing on the wall and made a difficult decision to support the treaty. There is nothing easy about this as these are tough times. The voting public came to a decision not reluctantly but because they felt it was in their and the country's best interests.

The allegations tossed around like a battering ram by Deputy Boyd Barrett and others that austerity was invented by the Government to punish the people are far from the reality. We are in a difficult situation which we inherited. I am not blaming anyone for it but that is the reality. The Government and the people have been called upon to deliver in the most difficult circumstances ever experienced in the history of the State. We should all take pride in the fact the Irish people rose up in the majority last week and made a clear decision they wanted stability, reality and to move forward. They did not enjoy it. They are suffering and they know we know they are suffering but they made that decision to accept the treaty for a very good reason.

There is one matter in which the country can give a lead. The recognition for political convergence that existed across Europe over the decades has waned in the face of these difficult times. Individual member states have sought refuge in their own revisited nationalism. That is not a good way to go. There is a great responsibility to give the lead in Europe. The Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, has done tremendous work in this area, as well as all Ministers and the majority of Members. There is a job to be done in giving the lead in Europe and taking responsibility for our part in European issues and affairs. That is what the people bestowed on us last week. Each member state must also make its contribution.

Someone referred earlier to sucking up to the German Chancellor. The German people have made many sacrifices over recent years which seem to go unnoticed. The people of this country are also making significant sacrifices. There is simply no manna from heaven or some mechanism that can allow us live in the lap of luxury. We ended up where we are through bad management, bad housekeeping and overspending. Those who profess to know an easier and softer option are not living with reality. The reality is that confidence is generated in the markets when they recognise those in charge mean business. I believe the Irish people were clear in their views last week and made a clear and conscious decision in their own interests and for the whole European project, a decision on which they should be commended. It was a courageous decision in difficult circumstances.

Economic turbulence has a difficult history across Europe. Even a cursory examination of history will show that when economic instability occurs, along with it comes suspicion, aggression, blame and worse. We must be careful and mindful of the circumstances in which this has happened. In the course thereof, we should all now realise that we all have a contribution to make to modern Europe. We know we can make a difference and we have shown others the way. Next year's Irish term of the EU Presidency will be its most important since joining the Union. It will fall to us to show other Europeans who may have second thoughts and think the European project is not working that it actually is. Each member state must make its own contribution in whatever way it can. Together, we the people across Europe will make the contribution that will see us out of our current economic difficulties.

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