Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I rely on the Taoiseach to ensure this is the case. It is a long road that has no turning. It is amazing how people come crawling to Government after abusing politicians and Governments for the past number of years. However, there is an issue to be dealt with and I look forward to its being dealt with properly. There is a difference between subsidies and doing deals.

I congratulate the Taoiseach on Ireland's Presidency of the European Union and wish him well in the responsible position he is to occupy for the next six months. We should be guided by the ideal of a Europe that listens to the views of its people and whose power is used in a way that people understand. Senator Quinn has just made the same point. Senator Bradford and others mentioned the importance of advancing the treaty. One of the ways in which we can do that is to have a debate on neutrality. If we did nothing else in this country except to force individual Irish people to say what they mean by neutrality it would be helpful. Nobody should be allowed to use clichés and everybody must say what they mean before they start talking about it. I do not agree with the position Fine Gael has taken on this but I admire its courage in putting it out there for debate. It is important that this is discussed. There are two extreme points of view on this issue. We need to know our responsibilities as good Europeans, even if that means defending Europe and ensuring we do not become the playthings of superpowers on the other side of the Atlantic. We need to find a balance so that ordinary people can understand what we mean by neutrality and how it can work. I ask that the Taoiseach raise this issue in a way that ordinary people understand. I wish him and the Government well in their role for the next six months.