Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes, the Blueshirts also, I suppose. We have barely banished this disgusting ideology to the 20th century, but it has not been fully defeated. Its re-emergence in some member states cannot be ignored. We have to do everything in our power to stop it in its tracks, including revising the economic system that is destroying families right across Europe.

It might be ignored by many, but freedom, democracy, workers' rights, as well as human rights and rights for minorities and those with disabilities, cannot be ignored any longer. Ordinary citizens fought long and hard for them and they need to be defended every day. As Europe Day approaches, EU leaders need to rethink their policies and really examine how socioeconomically destructive they are. The European Union has 26 million people, including 5.7 million youth, out of work, and 115 million at risk of poverty. Things obviously are not working. As we face into the celebration of Europe Day, there are many across Europe not celebrating. We are at a crossroads and it is time to look again at our direction. Austerity is not working. Other Members mentioned the recent remarks of the first citizen of this state on austerity. We need to listen and learn from them in order that we can change direction to have a more inclusive Europe and a European Union that will be ultimately judged by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members. Right now, it is failing its weakest and most vulnerable members with disastrous consequences.

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