Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Taoiseach to the House. While I am aware of the grave responsibility of the Taoiseach's European duties, we all envy him for the fact that he holds the Presidency of Europe at the most exciting time in the political history of the Continent.

I first spoke in this House in 1987 and at that time the Continent of Europe was divided by the Berlin wall and the Cold War. The changes since then are beyond description. Some 14 or 15 years ago it could not have been imagined that we would be now dealing with and ready to welcome into the family of Europe countries that for so long suffered under the cosh of the Cold War and the Soviet Union. Yesterday afternoon, some of my colleagues met with a delegation from Bulgaria. That country is not in the first accession stage but the enthusiasm and expectation of the delegation shows how far the Continent has come in the past ten years. The final part of the jigsaw is being moved into position. I wish the Taoiseach well in the next IGC meeting.

It is important to finalise the European constitution and it would be desirable to see it finalised in Dublin. The concept of a treaty of Dublin is one which would be a source of some degree of political satisfaction for the Taoiseach and all of us. It is important to put in place a treaty that will work. I support the Taoiseach's view on the comments attributed to Mr. Prodi concerning the two-speed Europe. There must be an end to that type of attitude and speech. This House gave a commitment to the Irish people as a result of our acceptance of the Nice treaty that every elector in the new Europe would be equal. This House must state that there will not be a two-speed Europe, that the family of Europe will be a family of equal nations. I admire the manner in which the Taoiseach is ensuring this will come to pass and that one or two of the larger European countries will not be dominant.

There have been difficulties in the past year in the relationship of Europe with the United States. There is right and wrong on both sides when it comes to difficulties between countries just as in families. We should not ignore what is happening as regards the accession countries and countries such as Bulgaria and Romania. Regardless of whether we like it, these countries have taken a decision as to how closely they wish to be linked to the United States. I would not wish to see the United States in a close relationship with the countries of central and eastern Europe and Ireland in the middle and somewhat aloof. We need to repair our relationship with the United States and ensure that the United States will have a good relationship with all of Europe and not just the accession states.

The Taoiseach's comments about UN reform are also very pertinent and important, but they have been ignored for too long. We must concede that, over the past ten years, the United Nations as an entity has not worked. It is a pity that it took the Iraqi war to demonstrate that fact. There is wrong on all sides but we must endeavour to make the United Nations work.

I wish the Taoiseach well in his talks with Dr. Paisley today. It shows how far we have come as a country that those talks will take place in a civilised and constructive fashion. Like the politics of Europe since the Second World War, compromise is required on all sides; nobody has all the answers and right and wrong do not belong exclusively to one side. There is nobody in the towns and townlands of Northern Ireland who does not wish to live in a country where there is peace, justice and security. Whether it is Dr. Paisley or Mr. Adams, the Taoiseach or Mr. Blair, they all aspire to seeing a country at peace. I wish the Taoiseach well today. He will not solve the problem today as he knows well but this is a significant step. There will be many more steps to take and I sincerely wish him well.