Europe brought us new ways, thinking and methods to approach public policy, which have become deeply embedded in how we manage our State's affairs, for example, in regard to gender equality and consumer protection. Ireland did not have an office of director of consumer affairs until it joined the EEC. Prior to that, consumer protection was dealt with under the Sale of Goods Act, 1898. With regard to environmental protection, many in Ireland have green and environmental values in regard to sustainability and inter-generational equity as they believe our inheritance from the abundance of nature's table should carry on to other generations. We have done better in Ireland by virtue of being in Europe in this area than we would have done alone.