Feargal Quinn (Independent)

The Taoiseach is very welcome to the House. I was delighted to hear his words and I was very impressed with his vision of Europe. I would like to ask him about the challenge he will face when the EU constitution - it may be the present version or a similar document - comes to be passed by the Irish people in a referendum. I would like the Taoiseach to put this great task high on his agenda during our Presidency.

I would like to give one example of the need to sell the benefits of the European Union to the people if we are to pass the constitution. A colleague recently said to me that he was planning to go to Barcelona for the weekend with his wife. He said that Peter Sutherland and the EU should be thanked for giving us such a benefit. We should remind people of the benefits, such as cheaper air travel, we have gained as a consequence of a united Europe. We should consider what happened in Brussels yesterday, however. The European Union decided that it does not like what Ryanair is doing in Charleroi. We should be aware that this sort of thing could turn the people of Ireland against the benefits we are getting from Europe if we are not careful.

Some time ago I met Mr. Václav Klaus, who is now the President of the Czech Republic. When I spoke to him about Europe, he said he is somewhat concerned about the Czech Republic swapping a big brother in Moscow for a big brother in Brussels. We do not want the image of a big brother in Brussels, who is telling us what to do without reminding us of the benefits, to take root in Ireland. We should ensure that rather than having a big brother, we have a loveable uncle instead.