Mary Henry (Independent)

As a constituent of mine, I also wish the President good luck in next year's elections. I always hope that my constituents prosper.

I thank the President for his stimulating address. I have also been to some of the accession countries and the excitement about their entry is incredible. Some of them are linking up with countries that are already members of the European Union. The Estonians say that the Finns will look after them. One could almost walk from Estonia to Finland if the tide was out.

Senator Hayes mentioned our role during the Irish Presidency and the relationship between the European Union and the current United States Administration – there have never been such difficulties with any other US Administration. We all know what happened in Iraq but I am concerned about the change in attitude in the US Administration towards development aid. The US Administration has cut aid to some of the multilateral agencies of the United Nations which we support, causing great distress. While the EU has tried to make up the deficit, it is very difficult. Money promised to assist the global effort to combat AIDS by the US Administration has been diverted to developing a vaccine against anthrax. The only country in the world that has had trouble with anthrax is the United States and the anthrax originated there. Have we any moral influence?

I supported the changes in the Common Agricultural Policy and I am glad the Minister for Agriculture and Food favours decoupling. European farmers, and farmers in the rest of the world, are at a serious disadvantage due to the supports given to farmers within the United States. Many of the protective tariffs introduced in America are contrary to the regulations of the World Trade Organisation. Is there any hope of influence during the pregnancy? I apologise, I should have said Presidency. Great potential exists and we should hope for positive results.