Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome Deputy John Bruton and thank him for a stimulating address. He made very clear distinctions among the choices that we, Europeans, in the form of our parties and Governments, will have to make as we move forward to the next Intergovernmental Conference. He put those choices very starkly, thereby posing the question in a very useful manner. I also congratulate him for managing to fill the Chamber following our deliberations earlier this afternoon, which were a bit fractious. His calm presence was a great help to us all.