Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The large countries do what they want to do. We as a nation have given up on the pride we were always brought up with.

Why do small nations not work together and decide to stand up and be counted? In a referendum a few years ago we were told European armies would not be put together, that it could not happen. Now we learn what is being said from media reports. I have not been here long but Deputies who go on trips to other countries tell me Ukraine is a corrupt country and of other countries supported by the European project which are corrupt, but we turn a blind eye to that. We do not want to see it because that is in the best interests of this so-called European project. We joined a community in Europe. Anywhere in the world community is seen as good because it involves people working together constructively, aiming for one goal and looking out for each other.

Europe is being torn apart. We are heading for a union which will or will not work. As a nation we have given up on ourselves and our pride. We have decided that Barroso, an unelected civil servant, and other unelected people, will dictate because we are losing jobs because of the regulations introduced here.

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