Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is usually from where the most likely migrant workers will come. Even with that particular cohort and given the percentage that has travelled here in the past, it is highly unlikely that it would have a destabilising impact on the economy. Notwithstanding the current level of unemployment, the Government's decision pertains only to employment. Croatians would, in any event, enjoy certain rights afforded to EU citizens. At the moment the Croatian economy is not competitive with ours. It is in its fifth straight year of recession and unemployment is at 21%. The current Government has embarked on a series of painful structural reforms including cuts to the country's bloated public services, a process that will pay dividends in the long run for Croatia but in the short term it will be very difficult for them.

I welcome the opportunity to support the legislation. I wish the Croatian people well in their accession to the European Union. I hope they have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that Ireland has enjoyed. Notwithstanding the real pain being suffered through the current crisis, they have some very strong strands to their economy, particularly in the area of tourism, which I think will be enhanced due to accession, and one on which they can build. They are also a very friendly people, very similar to the Irish in many respects. I think that is why we have succeeded in building strong links with them. Mr. Neven Mimica who a former deputy prime minister and a good friend of many in this House because of his membership of the European affairs committee of the Croatian Parliament will become the Commissioner. He is a man of great intellect and ability and will be of great benefit to the other smaller member states which, in the past, have sought to club and pool their resources, ideas and collective strengths to act not as a bulwark against the larger member states but as a balancing influence on decision making within the European Union. Our relationship with Croatia and those bonds and links that go back to 2004 and further will be helpful from an Irish perspective in having a friend around the table from which we will share some ideas. It will be to the State's benefit that we have built that relationship in advance of their accession to the European Union.

See this speech in context