Joe O'Toole (Independent)

It is remarkable that yesterday when we were honouring Senator Maurice Hayes on his accolade of European of the Year, the big boys club of Europe was meeting the big boys from the UK, France and Germany. Most of Europe cheered when the Taoiseach at the beginning of our Presidency made it clear that Europe did not see itself working in a two-tier direction. I do not know what these chaps discussed yesterday, maybe it was simply sex, television and sport, but in terms of the impression they are giving, it is perhaps time they were told a few home truths, namely, that France and the UK, in the course of their histories, not that long ago were attempting to create empires covering half the world and that the third element of the triumvirate meeting yesterday sought world domination not that long ago.

The rest of us should not need to be sitting around like compliant sheep wondering what these guys are at. We should remind them that the UK has never been completely committed to Europe. It opted out of the Social Chapter, the eurozone and is now trying to create a new situation where it is half in and half out. That is simply not acceptable. The Germans might be reminded that their economy is dragging down the economic development of the rest of Europe and France should look at how adequately it applies European directives and makes them work.

The rest of us should not be simply sitting around; the rest of Europe might well also have a meeting and exchange views on what they think about these matters and make it clear that this kind of macho display by the three big boys can be defeated by the simple rule of democracy. I ask the Taoiseach to take a strong, firm and unapologetic line on it.