Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

Yes, a sinking feeling.

Senator Henry also made a point about divisions in the European Union on the question of Iraq, which is an important and interesting one. Most of us appreciate the fact that the Union has always responded best in circumstances of crisis. For example, the defeat of the European political and defence proposals, the Pleven plan, in the French Parliament in 1954 gave rise to the Messina conference which gave rise, in turn, to the Treaty of Rome. When the European Union hit the doldrums, it was intervention by Jacques Delors that reactivated it. There is a necessity for some further thinking on this issue.

Senator Henry also mentioned the underestimation of smaller states. It has suddenly dawned on some of the bigger states that the smaller states will be in the majority in the new European Union. That is not to suggest that we should disregard the views of the larger states. I listen with respect to anything said by France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy or Spain and will listen to anything said by Poland when it becomes a member. However, I am not prepared to accept that a policy brought forward by a large state is always superior to a policy brought forward by a small state or Ireland. We have grown to the point where we can be sufficiently self-confident to argue our case and are doing this.