Our neutrality has perhaps served us well during the years, whether it was political or military neutrality. However, we are now in a different era. This is a mature, confident, outgoing country which does not play second fiddle to anybody. We should not be prisoners of our past. In deciding to move ahead and take a different road we are not in any way condemning those who have gone before us. It is simply a recognition that things have changed, that the European Union is expanding, that we want to play a full, key role in the new Europe and that participating in the area of defence is an integral part of being a full team player. The people will respond to this challenge if we show the necessary political leadership.