Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and am heartened by the enthusiasm he and I share for this process. It is a very difficult process that lies ahead of everyone, not just the Minister of State. It behoves everyone in this House and throughout society to see more Irish people working within the EU. One of my biggest criticisms of the European project - I do occasionally criticise it - is its inability to sell itself. The European Commission is brilliant at informing people as to how they can criticise the Commission and its work but it does not sell the brilliant achievements it has made over the last 60 or so years. Equally, the Irish Government is not selling Europe. Regardless of what party is in power and what party holds the Minister of State's brief, we are not selling Europe. We are not convincing young Irish graduates that a career in the European institutions should be an attractive one. I will declare an interest. I lived on the Continent for two years and did not pursue that career for personal reasons. We need to make sure that people realise employment in the European institutions is lucrative and well paid and offers great opportunities for travel and to build experience. Many people have countered this saying it may be because of the economic boom in Ireland but that is not a fair comparison. I encourage the Minister of State to look at some of the more imaginative suggestions I have made on attracting talent. I very much welcome his commitment to engage with stakeholders. Vital among them is European Movement Ireland. I also urge the Minister of State to engage with the College of Europe. Every year, Irish individuals go to the College of Europe on scholarship but how many of them, having been trained to work in the European institutions, go on to work in the Commission, Parliament or Council? How many of them instead work in the private sector? While the latter is a fine choice, it does not always benefit Ireland Inc. and our importance of imagination.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting my Topical Issue matter and thank the Minister of State for his engagement.

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