Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett spoke about the lack of democracy in the decision-making process in the European Union. The Lisbon treaty which was passed in 2009 and which he strongly opposed extended co-decision making to the European Parliament which now has the same powers as the Council which is made up of the Prime Ministers of the member states. That is an extension of democracy. There was also an extension of democracy to this Parliament which now has new powers to have an input into the decisions of the European Union. The institutions of the European Union have not only been added to through the European External Action Service but also through greater transparency. The extra democracy added to the Union’s institutions by the Lisbon treaty was opposed by the Deputy who claimed there was a lack of democracy in Europe.

The number of countries that wish to join the European Union is increasing all the time. If matters are so bad in the Union, why are so many countries anxious to join?

Deputy Finian McGrath referred to militarisation and believes we are joining NATO. We are not. Any time we embark on a peacekeeping mission it is subject to the triple lock mechanism which requires a UN Security Council resolution, a Government decision and a parliamentary vote. In fact, the European Union is far from being about militarisation. On 23 April in Pristina representatives of Serbia and Kosovo sat down to agree to parity of esteem between the two countries for the first time ever under the umbrella of the European Union. In the 1980s the Union brought in Spain, Greece and Portugal, former dictatorships. It is now achieving the same purpose in the Balkans and it is a desirable approach. I agree with the President, Mr. Higgins’s remarks on seeking a review and a renewal of the European Union to ensure solidarity and a vision for peace remain part of its goal.

Deputy Shane Ross asked why Ireland should be on the back foot. It is obvious why it is on the back foot. It is because of the actions of bankers and their henchmen and the way our finances were undermined. The Deputy asked where were the jobs and growth the Government had promised. We promised we would travel using a roadmap that would require a degree of austerity. That is what we have had and sacrifices have been made. In 2011 we witnessed the first period of economic growth in five years, with a growth rate of 1.4%. In 2012 it was 0.9%. This year the ESRI estimates it will be 1.8% and could be 2.6% next year. This is happening at a time when we are still in a bailout programme and only Germany is experiencing any growth, while the rest of the European Union is stagnant. We are on the way back.

James Connolly who was referred to by a Member opposite was actually an internationalist. He would have been the first person who would have wanted to see a cross-border union, with member states united in solidarity. He would have welcomed this approach towards peace in the European Union, with solidarity between peoples and communities.

See this speech in context