Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

If one opens a map of Europe and puts a finger down the middle, somewhere between the top of Norway and Malta, and half way between the Urals and the Twelve Pins, it will land in Prague, the centre of Europe. It is wonderful to see countries like the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic coming together into the European Union. Ireland was always on the periphery and I always imagined the centre of Europe to be in these regions rather than in Ireland or Britain. The re-integration of all these countries is a wonderful experiment and project. The journey is not yet finished because other countries are still to join the Union. Countries cannot just wander in, even if invited; they must meet certain criteria. Once the criteria are met they are helped along the way.

While this is a short Bill, it is one of the most important to have gone through the House for a long time. Countries such as the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovenia have a resonance with the Second World War when their freedom was taken away and their democracies were crushed. Many of them had just come out from under imperial yokes. The emperors were gone but they became part of another empire, ostensibly a Soviet empire in most cases, apart from Cyprus. These countries have come out from under the yoke of Soviet imperialism, which is no different from "Imperial" imperialism, because people were not allowed the freedom they should have had and which, I hope, they will enjoy like every other country in the European Union.

I listened carefully to Senator McDowell who made some good points about how some of these countries have a different attitude from us to security, including membership of NATO and so on. I have visited some of these countries and have spoken to the people. It is only when one does this one realises the fear which still exists that a huge army will one day roll in over their country, which is why their fears about security are understandable.

Senator McDowell also referred to Cyprus. It is a pity the two parts of the island, which were almost ready to do so, did not come together. Forces outside the island appear to control events rather than forces inside.