Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

It is difficult to express the sense of honour I have as a result of being elected to this House. As with many Members, it is the result of a long journey in politics. Most recently, I travelled the length and breadth of the country. I travelled thousands of miles guided by a map, often read late at night with the aid of my car light, seeking members of the electorate, hoping to get a welcoming smile and a good high preference vote. With all due to respect to our colleagues in the Dáil, we have had a far more arduous journey. At times it was a lonely journey made more difficult by the lack of interest on the part of the media, a media which when it did note the election often did so with disdain, encouraging an open season of criticism on the legitimacy of the House, with correspondents decrying the lack of democracy in the election. I did not travel this country for weeks to become a member of an irrelevant body. I firmly believe this chamber can make a difference. This House is only as effective as its membership and it is up to us to ensure that it makes a difference.

There is no more important issue facing us than the upcoming referendum on the Nice treaty. We must decide where stand on Europe. We do not have the luxury of standing on the sidelines and we cannot afford to be complacent. We must take up the challenge to make Europe work for us all. There are problems with Europe, it needs to change. It must become more democratic, more responsive to the needs of ordinary people and it must protect the rights and the role of smaller states. These issues will be on the agenda and can only be addressed from the centre, not the sidelines.

I am privileged to be a member of the Forum on Europe and to take part on the debate on our role in Europe. I am more convinced than ever of the need for everyone in this House to play an active role in the upcoming referendum and to enter the debate on where we see Ireland in Europe. As a member of the forum I have heard at first hand from the representatives of the applicant countries what they want to advance and enhance their lives and countries. They are seeking what we sought 30 years ago, a chance to improve their lives and countries. Is that a great deal for them to ask? Will the "No" to Nice campaigners be the Irish people who keep those applicant states out of the European Union? Why do they not listen to the applicant countries rather than interpreting what they think they want?

Those who see neutrality as important, as I do, unfortunately often take a head in the sand approach, especially on international issues, staying on the sidelines rather than making a positive contribution. International issues affect us all. We must develop a positive neutrality that will give us an option to engage, bringing our analysis and values to international issues. If neutrality means anything, it demands that we get involved, articulating a world view coming from a value system based on what we hold important.