Feargal Quinn (Independent)

It is always a joy to listen to Senator Dardis. He uses the words "realism" and "opportunity", words I like. They are much better than "Seanad Éireann congratulates" or "Seanad Éireann condemns". I will repeat myself inasmuch as I will make points that the Minister has heard previously because I want to speak out against, what I call, "the ostrich tendency", the tendency to bury our national head whenever the question of the CAP arises.

There has been a conspiracy of silence about the CAP dating back to the 1970s. For 30 years we have resisted all attempts to bring it into line with the realities of the modern, market-driven world. The only time I heard this referred to was by Senator Dardis tonight. Even in 2003 we continue to cod ourselves with the delusion that this is a sensible policy. We even try to persuade ourselves that it will continue indefinitely. Colleagues who know me well do not have to be told that I am proud to be Irish and a European and that I am well known around the world as a champion of Irish food. I use the opportunity to do this whenever I can.

I cringe whenever I hear of a new refusal either here or at European level to face up to the reality in regard to the CAP. As long as we leave it unreformed, we are trying to live in the past. In its current form it is hugely wasteful and highly inefficient, even in reaching the objectives set for it. It penalises the majority of Europeans at the expense of a small minority. Even worse, it penalises the peoples of the developing world by distorting the marketplace in order that they cannot sell their agricultural goods.

Successive Governments have taken the wrong attitude towards this cancer in the European project which we did not invent – it was in place when we joined the EEC in 1973. Instead of recognising it for the uneconomic, unfair, untimely and unsustainable monster it was, we fell on it as though it was manna from heaven. As a predominantly agricultural country, we would have had immense moral authority if we had chosen instead to lead the way out of the quagmire that our partners had created for themselves before we joined. Unlike Britain which clearly has vested interests in the matter, no one would have questioned our bona fides if we had put up our hand and told the truth which has been staring us in the face for the past 30 years – the policy cannot survive as a permanent part of a united Europe.