Teastaíonn uaim dhá rud a lua faoi stair na hEorpa. Tháinig rudaí iontacha as sin ach tá comharthaí a thugann an stair sin dúinn faoin gcontúirt atá ann i gcónaí fosta. It was the former Taoiseach, Deputy John Bruton, who first drew my attention to the fact that in the last century, there were only three European states with a longer period of independent, functioning democracy than Ireland. We are one of the most ancient democracies of the last century, even though we see ourselves as relatively new. Only Switzerland, Sweden and Britain are older. Democracy, however, is a fragile creation that is always at risk. As a member of the Joint Committee on European Affairs, I have been fortunate to visit a number of the accession countries and see the richness and depth of the civilised heritage that exists there. We must remember, however, that in spite of that cultural and religious heritage, the most ferocious wars ever fought took place in the same civilisation. That should give us pause and that is why, in spite of many criticisms, I am committed to the European project.