Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator White for affording me the opportunity of making a brief contribution. I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, on your election, and Senator Paddy Burke on his election as Leas-Chathaoirleach, as well as Senator O'Rourke on her appointment as Leader of the House. It is appropriate that the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, is steering this Bill through the House. Of all those who have been involved in national politics over the years, he has demonstrated a clear vision of the European project and he has made a major contribution to the development of economic policies in a European context. The Minister of State has already proved to be an outstanding success in his new role and I wish him every success in future.

I was elected to the Oireachtas in 1973 at the time Ireland joined the European Economic Community. In the interim, I have witnessed the economic transformation that has occurred. There has also been a major change of outlook among the younger generation who see Europe as being the way forward. The result of the last referendum on the Nice treaty, caused by apathy and confusion, was disappointing. Many people did not feel it was necessary to vote on that occasion and so the referendum was lost. It is now critically important to clear up any remaining confusion and, to date, the campaign has demonstrated that can be done.

The European Union has had a major impact on agriculture, the environment, equality legislation and many other aspects of our lives. In fact, many EU directives have been welcomed by those who are staunchly opposed to the Nice treaty. The Treaty of Nice provides a framework for further consolidation and enlargement of the EU.

In recent years I have attended plenary sessions of the Council of Europe as a delegate, with yourself, a Chathaoirligh. At the last few assemblies of that Council, it was brought home to us by politicians from most of the applicant states how upset they were that the people of Ireland might deny them the possibility of becoming part of an enlarged EU. It was difficult to explain the last referendum result to politicians from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland who stringently expressed their disappointment to us. The finger of blame was being pointed at everybody in Ireland. Politicians from the applicant states see the Treaty of Nice as being positive for them and something that should not be voted down. They regard our forthcoming decision as critically important in their attempt to join the EU. Many of them have been involved for a long number of years in the negotiations on EU enlargement, the modalities of which have been completed or are near to completion. When EU enlargement has been completed, most of Europe, with few exceptions, will be part of the Union.

One issue that will arise from enlargement is how the agenda of an expanded EU will coincide with that of the Council of Europe. In that event, it would be useful to avoid any unnecessary duplication in the area of human rights and other matters.