Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

The current proposals from Brussels are causing no difficulty for the official Irish position. The anti-EU brigade which continues to argue that our neutrality – if we wish to remain neutral – is threatened by Brussels is simply wrong.

I welcome the view emerging from the Convention that the European Parliament will retain its number of seats as agreed in the Nice treaty. The Parliament is not the perfect institution – if there is any perfect institution – but it has democratic legitimacy and accountability. The fact that the current President is an Irish MEP shows the significant role which Ireland and other smaller states can play.

With the European and local elections just a year away, the Government and indeed all of the political parties must urgently commence a campaign of voter information to maximise the turnout. I recall raising this issue in another House in 1999 after the local elections and being advised by the then Minister that he would look at ways and means of increasing electoral participation. It is not only a European but a world wide problem, but we, as politicians, must concede that it is a reflection on us to some degree that in a local or European election perhaps not more than 40% or 45% of people would wish to exercise their right to vote.