Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

Deputy John Bruton's frankness today is most refreshing. I compliment the Leader on her initiative in inviting the Deputy, Mr. De Rossa and the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, to come before the Seanad. If Senators are to address the problem of the democratic deficit, this is one of the ways of doing it.

When the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, came before the House, I highlighted the fact that in the early days of the EEC we were able to point to many good reasons for being a member. In those days, for every £1 we paid into the EEC, we received £10 back and £9 of that went to farming. Over £8 of the £9 went to price supports. That is a relatively accurate recollection of the economic situation and the set of the relationships we had then. That is the simple way we sold it to the Irish people in the early days.

Within the next couple of years, Ireland will be a net contributor to the EU so we will have a new set of relationships. Senator Quinn spoke about the language that is being used. It is difficult for ordinary people to relate to and most of them simply turn away. Is there a simple way today, given the complexities that have crept into the institutions of the EU, to put forward that same message to the people?