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

In marking Europe Day in the House today, it is appropriate to begin by surveying the political and economic European landscape. Our Union, it is fair to say, is in a very different position from where it was a decade ago. Financial uncertainty, conflict on our borders and a heightened threat from terrorism mean that the EU is facing challenges beyond what we could have imagined in 2005. However, the European Union is no stranger to challenge and adversity. After all, this is a Union which was forged in the wake of a brutal and devastating war. As we look to the challenges of today and of the future, I am confident that the Union will draw strength from our vision of a shared future and from the shared interests and values which have successfully bound 28 member states together.

Over recent years, the Union has had to grapple with the most serious economic crisis in its history. Tackling the crisis has required difficult and often painful decisions, collectively and particularly by individual member states. Today, we are in a stronger place. Faced with grave and systematic challenges, the Union's response has been enhanced economic policy co-ordination and oversight, together with the roll-out of banking union. This has helped both to weather the storm that originated in the 2008 global financial crisis and also to ensure that we are better able to respond to any future crises. Most importantly, a genuine, if fragile, economic recovery is now beginning to take hold across Europe. Ireland has been leading the way, with a growth rate of 4.8% last year. The economies in our partner states are also increasingly beginning to recover.

The challenge now is to ensure not just that this recovery is sustainable, but that it translates into real and tangible benefits for Europe's citizens, most importantly in the area of job creation. There is some evidence that the improved economic outlook is feeding into the labour market, but we must do more to get people back to work. We are particularly aware of the real difficulties faced by the Greek people. Notwithstanding the scale of the challenge, it is my sincere hope that the ongoing negotiations between the Greek Government and the three institutions will deliver a successful outcome.

For the European Union to be truly strong, it must have the trust and confidence of its citizens. Unfortunately, this trust has been eroded in some ways by the painful realities of the crisis as people, and particularly young people, suffered from its most serious effects. It is no surprise that there is a corollary between reduced economic opportunities and heightened levels of euroscepticism. Rebuilding trust means ensuring that people can have hope again for the future. It means supporting job creation, kick-starting investment and ensuring that credit can flow to small and medium-sized enterprises. I hope that governments and parliaments across the Union will take the opportunity afforded by Europe Day to reflect on their own role in enhancing understanding of the Union and encouraging a more positive citizens' engagement. The Union touches almost every aspect of our daily lives and it should, and must, be firmly part of our national dialogue.

The European Union's neighbourhood, both to the east and to the south, has become increasingly unpredictable and unstable over the past 12 years. This presents a challenge to the security and stability of the Union, but can also represent a challenge to our fundamental values and democratic principles. The Union has taken decisive action by imposing sanctions on Russia in respect of its actions in Ukraine, and it has unequivocally condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea. It also stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian Government as it works to roll out an ambitious reform programme; this support was reaffirmed at the EU-Ukraine summit on 27 April last.

Significantly, and notwithstanding some differing perspectives among member states, the EU has maintained a unified approach to this crisis in our neighbourhood. This will continue to be critical to our credibility and influence as we consider next steps, particularly in light of implementation of the Minsk agreements. Key to the Union's effectiveness as a foreign policy actor is our ability to bring an array of complementary strategies to bear in a comprehensive response, from diplomacy to development assistance to civilian and military crisis response. The world around us is being shaped by increased connectivity, but also increased complexity.

The terrible attacks in Paris, Copenhagen and Brussels earlier this year reminded us that security threats are not just beyond the Union's borders, but also within the Union. These were direct strikes against the values that underpin Europe. The threat of terrorism is a problem for which there is no easy solution or magic wand. Combatting it requires constant vigilance on the part of the EU and its member states and close and effective co-operation between our respective national policing and judicial authorities. It also demands that we address the factors which contribute to radicalisation of Europe's citizens. The EU's determined response to the attacks in Paris and Copenhagen has shown that such acts only serve to bring us closer together, rather than to divide us. Member states and the Union's institutions have resolved to work more closely together than ever before in fighting terrorism. A number of steps were agreed earlier this year and the European Council in June will review the progress achieved on these very serious matters.

On the issue of migration, the scale of the recent terrible tragedies in the Mediterranean rightly prompted widespread shock and sorrow. It was crucial that the EU responded with compassion and urgency; to do otherwise would have been to forsake the moral authority of our Union. On a basic human level, we simply cannot turn the other way when innocent people are drowning off our shores. At a specially convened summit, Heads of State and Government committed to a number of steps to help save lives, alleviate suffering and strengthen co-operation with countries in our neighbourhood. The member states have also committed to an ambitious plan to implement these steps. Ireland has been playing a key part in this. We have increased the level of our humanitarian assistance to those directly affected. We are also contributing a naval vessel to participate in the reinforced EU mission in the Mediterranean.

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We have made clear that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our southern EU partners who carry a substantial load when confronting these challenges.

We are all aware that the British people go to the polls today. It is no surprise that the United Kingdom's future within the European Union remains the subject of speculation. British membership of the European Union is vital to Ireland's interests. It is important for our economic well-being, central to the continuing development of strong British-Irish relations and vital to our long-term strategic positioning within the European Union. We should not forget the positive influence and the benefits that joint Irish and British membership of the European Union has brought to Northern Ireland. Given that it is central to our interests, we have been very clear about our views and these are on the record. With today's election likely to have a significant bearing on how this issue is treated across the Irish Sea, we will be watching the results very closely. No matter who is elected and who forms part of the next British Government we will continue to put the case to our British friends as to why our particular and shared interests are best served with Britain playing a leading role in the European Union.

In considering the challenges which face the European Union today - I have only touched on some - we should not lose sight of the fact that in many of these challenges there are also very real opportunities for building a stronger and more comprehensive Internal Market, for building fairer and more equal societies, and for using our collective weight as a European Union of 28 member states to promote global peace, security and development. The interconnected nature of our world means that the challenges of today cannot be tackled by states acting in isolation. We must and we will work together as a European Union with focused determination.

On this important day for Europe, I assure the House that Ireland will continue to play a positive, active and engaged role as a proud member of the European Union in tackling those challenges and in harnessing new opportunities.

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