The pooling of sovereignty is a fundamental issue which goes to the heart of what Europe is about. However, it must be borne in mind that it is voluntary. We have voluntarily agreed that we will pool sovereignty in certain areas. Our Ministers attend Council meetings to discuss issues which may or may not become directives. If directives follow, we have agreed within the Council process to share our law-making capacities with the other member states in order to create, for example, an environmental directive which will apply equally to Ireland, Britain, Germany and Poland because effective action cannot be taken by national governments alone.