The Irish Presidency will run from January to June 2004 and ratification of enlargement will take place during that term. We should not sit back when the Irish Presidency is over and say we have no more to do in Europe. We have learned a lesson from the referendum dealing with the Treaty of Nice. The public want the benefits of Europe but they also want to be informed. They want common defence and common security but they want to make sure the ethos of Ireland is maintained and that there is no rowing back on that. It needs to be emphasised that Ireland will work and co-operate with Europe. We want to belong to Europe. That is the message we have given to the accession countries and they are very pleased they are now becoming part of all of us. The opening up of borders and a common currency is the way forward with no more days of war, dark days of poverty, or closed borders. It is to be hoped that central and eastern Europe will become European as well as remaining individual. Each country will retain the integrity of its nationality.