The Government has decided that Ireland's national measures for the transitional period will be to grant full access to the labour market to nationals of the new member states from the date of accession, May 2004. There are a number of reasons for this. First, arguably most important, this will send a strong and unambiguous signal to the new member states that we intend to show solidarity and promote their integration into the Union from the outset. We intend that this should set the tone for longer-term relations with these states.