Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate and the three amendments to the motion from the Technical Group. One can see the differing opinions, which are very important, in the amendments from Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. Sadly, the Technical Group's differences come out in the motion in that it does not say what it wants to achieve for Ireland or for the euro. Given the mix of people in the Technical Group, it is understandable.

This is an important debate, particularly in respect of democratic legitimacy. We have a directly elected European Parliament and the Heads of Government take proposals from the Commission, which is not elected. The Fine Gael Party and its governing body in the European People's Party believes the President of the Commission should be democratically elected. Sometimes we overstate the degree to which technocrats rule Europe. Proposals still come before the democratically elected Heads of Government. In the case of the multi-annual financial framework, it also comes before the European Parliament. One could not but agree with many of the aspirations in the amendments. Europe and the euro have flaws and failings but we must ask where we would be if we had remained an isolated, small island, with an independent currency, off one of the largest economic blocs on the planet.

Many of the problems in this country over the past five or six years were self-inflicted. To blame Europe and the euro is a step too far. It is correct to say we are now in it and it is equally correct to say the main problem of the euro is caused by the fact it does not have supports such as banking union and a properly functioning central bank. The solution is to improve those institutions and develop our shared currency. It is the currency of the Irish people, just as Ireland cannot step in or out of being a member of Europe. We are part of Europe, the same as everyone else. While the debate and discussion on the future of Europe is welcome, it should be approached from the point of view of how we can improve our currency rather than the overly simplistic view, which is detrimental to the country, the economy and Europe, of simply walking away from a currency that has so much potential.

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