In its latter years the previous Government managed to speak out of both sides of its mouth about the European Union when it suited. We had the two de Valeras lamenting European directives that were taking away our democracy while, at the same time, it turned out that their records of attending Council of Ministers' meetings where these decisions were taken were abysmal. It is a little much to blame people for taking decisions over one's head when one will not go to the meeting where the decision is taken.