These large and small relativities are overdone. If we get this right, 2004 will be the year of the greatest act of reconciliation in modern Europe, an act of healing and an act of closure on a barbaric 20th century. It will be presided over in the Council of Ministers by an Irish Taoiseach, in the European Parliament by an Irish MEP and leading it in the European Commission – since it has gone from a national quota to a merit based system – will be the most senior civil servant, David O'Sullivan, an Irishman. Do not tell me that size is the only issue; it is about conviction, determination, passion, networking, friendship and relationship building. Those have been the keys and those other observations establish why that is so.