While Irish people take pride in having the Celtic tiger economy, we should not kid ourselves that we created it by ourselves. Our membership of the European Union more than any other single factor made us the economic success we are today. We must go beyond the generosity for which we are known and show solidarity. Do we have the solidarity to support new democracies and emerging economies in eastern Europe? Will we welcome our eastern European sisters and brothers, many of whom have been visited by acute conflict and political transition?