Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Europe Day was created to celebrate Europe's achievements and unity. We have been told that it is a day of "reflection on the co-operation, prosperity and peace that has come about through the European project". However, I believe it would be disingenuous for us to reflect on and talk about the European Union while at the same time overlooking its many, significant flaws. Reflecting on our time as a member of the European Union, I cannot help but feel we got the short end of the stick. Maybe I feel this more acutely than others, given the fact that I come from a town that has been completely decimated because of the European Union. The fishing industry in Killybegs has taken hit after hit since joining the EU, and it has not only affected the industry but the town and county as a whole.

I have said time after time that the root of these problems began with our negotiations to join the EU and with the Common Fisheries Policy. Europe’s greed and Ireland’s mistakes during the course of these negotiations have had a detrimental and irreversible effect on all our fishing towns since. Killybegs has experienced and continues to experience mass emigration of our young people, either abroad or to Dublin. This has negatively impacted on Dublin, too. When you build an entire country around one city, of course the city’s infrastructure will be unable to cope. I truly believe that had we not joined the EU, or indeed if the EU was interested in the development of small countries, we would not have as severe a divide between Dublin and the rest of the country and opportunities would be more equally spread.

It is important to remember that it is not just the west that Europe left behind; Europe left the whole country behind in the crash of 2010.

The Union claims to look after small countries such as Ireland and care about the development of smaller countries, but this could not be further from the truth given how we were treated during that time. The homelessness issue we are faced with every day in this country is a direct legacy of European policies that were foisted on Ireland at that time to save German, French and British banks. Forgive me, therefore, for being hesitant in celebrating Europe Day today. The truth is Ireland gives more to Europe than it gets out of it. The truth is the EU was set up not for small countries but for larger economies to gain more control and more of a stake.

Moreover, it has done little but undermine our long-standing policy of neutrality, which is where the fight will be focused for the next couple of years. It is clear both the EU and the Government are keen to erode our neutrality. I again voice my concern regarding the Government’s decision to review Ireland’s policy on neutrality and defence and my concern regarding the way in which this will be done. Ireland has a long-standing and proud position of neutrality, and the consideration of such an important policy stance should be given to a citizens’ assembly, not a public forum, as proposed by the Tánaiste. I am sceptical of the Government’s reasons for setting up this forum. It should be open and transparent about its reasons for establishing such a forum without having a debate, or even statements, on it in the Dáil. It is clear the intention is to do away with our neutrality policy. The Taoiseach stated earlier that Europe, rather than Ukraine, is at war. That is the reality of the matter and that is the road we are on.

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