I welcome this opportunity to debate the Bill today in the Seanad. It comes at an opportune time. Yesterday, the European Commission published its annual reports on the acceding states' readiness for membership. The main message is a positive one; great progress is being maintained and only a limited number of tasks need to be undertaken before accession. This is being described as the best ever prepared enlargement, a remarkable achievement given the sweeping transformation and preparation needed. The current process of enlarging the European Union could see it growing from its current membership of 15 and a land area of over 3.2 million km. sq, with a population of about 370 million people, to a future membership of 28 member states with an area of approximately 5 million km. sq. and an overall population of up to 550 million citizens.