Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the motion. I very much welcome it because we have a problem in this country in terms of communicating the importance of the EU to people and how it works for them. It is probably the biggest issue we have.

Before we discuss the motion, both sides of the House would have to agree that, as Deputy Lawlor said, Europe has been good for us in terms of how far it has brought the country over quite a long period of time. The issue becomes somewhat muddled because we are now in a situation of financial crisis throughout the EU. Irrespective of whether we like it, we are inextricably linked to the rest of Europe.

We have heard many times in recent months that even as the economy is growing, and quite slowly at that, our exports have the capacity to increase to a much greater level. Unfortunately, however, much of the rest of Europe is in recession. In other words, the markets into which we are exporting cannot buy up the amount of product we can sell. That is causing a great deal of confusion.

I agree with Deputy Lawlor that the debate our near neighbours are having on Europe is taking place for all the wrong reasons. It is a discussion that is entirely politically motivated. What we are seeing there is a very far-right party suddenly becoming popular and one of the Government parties seeking to steal a march on it by upping the ante in regard to euroscepticism. That is not the answer to the problem no matter what way one looks at it. From an Irish perspective, what is important to bear in mind is how this affects people in their everyday lives. We remain in a very difficult economic situation. The main issue of concern for the people I talk to is unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. I welcome many of the developments that have taken place since this Government came into office, including the progress on a youth guarantee fund.

It cannot be denied, however, that there is an element of scepticism in this country in regard to the European project, which arises in part from our location on the periphery. Stories of our budgets being leaked to the Bundestag and German politicians knowing more about it than Members of the Oireachtas lead to cynicism. Irish people want to see how Europe works for us; that will be the key in all of this. There have been claims from many quarters that austerity does not work. It certainly helps with fixing the budget deficit, but people want to see more than that. The problem is that power is overly centralised in a certain group of countries. It is only when we reach the stage where we are promoting growth and jobs that we will see the true benefit of Europe. We need to get that stage and the first step in that regard is fixing our economy.

It is important, no matter what happens in terms of the future direction of Europe, that the Irish Parliament is always heard, that we are in charge of our budgets and that we do it for ourselves. I have no issue whatsoever with a debate on Europe, but this motion comes at the wrong time. We are still in a bailout situation and the people we are being urged to walk away from are the ones funding the country. Let us get back on our feet economically before having a debate on our role in Europe into the future.

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