Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have this opportunity to talk about the country I now live in. I never wanted to live in it. I always wanted to live in Ireland, not in the European Union. I found it interesting to hear Deputy Dooley speaking about "when we joined the European Union". I remind him that we did not join a Union - we joined a Community. I was only born around then, but in the years after that I was always a fan of the European Union. The whole idea was that states would co-operate with each other, not that they would all become a single state. I think many Irish people feel the same way. One of the most rampant eurosceptics I know - Tom Ward, who is a member of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association - canvassed for Ireland to join the European Community. As far as he is concerned, it is now an abomination. This view is shared by many people I know. I do not like the term "eurosceptic" because I love Europe. I accept that "hate" is a very strong word, but it is because I love Europe that I hate and despise the EU and what it is doing.

I hear over and over again that the European project started out because France and Germany could not stop killing each other. If they want to fight wars against each other, that problem will not be solved by tying us all together in one country, especially if everyone is not on board. If one wants proof that the effect of the EU is far from bringing peace, all one has to do is look at what is happening in Greece. The same mistakes that were made after the First World War, when the kicking that was given to Germany produced extremism, are now being made in the case of Greece. The EU has also produced extremism. As a result, a party like Golden Dawn seems to be getting away with being openly racist. If the European project is about peace, I would love to know how we have ended up with such a situation.

Two years ago, I joined many other people at Clonmoylan and Barroughter bogs to defend our right to keep our homes warm and cook our food as we have done for hundreds of years. We were met by 30 police vehicles, approximately 40 members of the Garda Síochána and 18 members of the armed response unit. They were deployed, in the European Union that is supposedly looking for peace, to stop us from keeping our houses warm. The same State that basically declared war on people who cut turf benefits all over the world from postcards of piles of turf. It is clear from the fact that guns were brought to a bog to stop people from cutting turf that we are now so far up Europe's posterior that we are tickling its tonsils. How is that bringing about peace?

One of the biggest mistakes we ever made was to join the euro. I have to say I did not understand it at the time. My simplistic view was that it was great. I have never been to Spain - I could never afford to go there - but I thought that if a time ever came when I could afford to do so, it would be great if I was able to use the same money. I thought the euro looked lovely.

That was my level of analysis at the time, but people such as Anthony Coughlan were quite clear about where it would lead. I believe he said at the time, "You're all smiling, but this will end in tears" or words to that effect. How right he was. It has ended in tears and ended up with us having €70 billion worth of debt on our shoulders which we should not have. How have we benefited from that? That €70 billion worth of debt is a drag on every activity in this country, including electricians going out to fit a lock on a door. The Government has set up the PSA to bail money out of them and throw that back at the debt. The same is true of any activity, even going out to buy an egg. People are taxed on the petrol they put in the car to get to the shop; they will pay extra tax on the egg when they get there; and there will be extra tax on the fuel in the shop where it is being sold. Where are the benefits from this Union?

It is time to reverse gear and put an end to this European Union. As I love Europe I believe it is time to do it soon because otherwise we will end with having more wars and problems, not fewer.

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