Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. Over the last 18 months he has presented us with the message from the European Union in a balanced and fair fashion. I agree the Irish Presidency will be judged on its results over the six months term. However, at this stage, we must say, "so far, so good". The work done on EU issues by the Minister of State, the Taoiseach and their colleagues is excellent. I wish them well over the concluding three months of the presidency. I also wish, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, to extend congratulations to the Irish diplomatic corps and civil servants who it seems are working on an almost 24 hour basis.

The Irish Presidency is an example of what a small country can achieve within the European Union. Future presidencies and the management of the Union will change but Ireland is finishing this presidency in style. The accession states, particularly the smaller ones, will notice this and emulate what Ireland has achieved in the management of EU business. Ireland is up there in lights and not only is it good for us but it is good for the accession states and Europe.

Though it may not be pertinent to this debate, what those minority groups who speak for nobody in this country, or across the Union, will attempt through protest on 1 May must be discussed. Over the weekend, newspapers carried disturbing reports on planned protests due to take place in Dublin on May Day. Groups of thugs from all over Europe are being invited to Dublin by thugs in this State to bring anarchy and chaos to our streets. Who are these people? Sometimes they claim the title of "Reclaim the Streets". One wonders what they are reclaiming, from whom and for whom. These people have no political agenda except a negative one of destruction. They have no electoral record. If they put themselves forward, they would get little support from the electorate. However, they are attempting to close down Dublin city and the country on 1 May. It is an absolute disgrace.

The accession of new states to the EU will be marked on 1 May. Many of these states lived behind the Iron Curtain in fear and terror for years. This will be an outstanding day in the history of the Union and Europe. Those groups across Europe, supported by a tiny minority who speak for no one in this country, should not be allowed to disrupt 1 May. The weekend newspapers gave details of a video on an Internet site speaking for direct action in a weekend of resistance to say no to fortress Europe and to drag down the EU. This is shocking.

The democratically elected Oireachtas must say no to these unelected Trotskyite thugs who have nothing to contribute to the EU but to hark back to days long gone. These thugs are abusing the word "globalisation" to bring protests onto the street. Global trade has not just built up this country, but the Continent and its Union. It is time for us to strike back at these people. It is we who should be reclaiming the streets from these thugs whose record is one of trouble and misery. What is their agenda for Europe? They speak of bringing down the EU, the very body that has brought peace and security to the Continent. After 1 May, when the Union is 25 states, that peace, stability and economic progress will extend eastwards which any decent, thoughtful and constructive person should support. These people must be told they are not welcome to protest on our streets with their message of violence and thuggery.

The European Council last week was dominated by the shocking and tragic events in Madrid. The EU had to respond and the putting in place of mechanisms to combat terrorism is welcome. It will always be impossible to combat terrorism because its ideology and operation is not just negative but secretive. One can never have an absolute security response to terrorism. I welcome the fact the EU is speaking with one voice, not only about the futility of terrorism but also about its absolute commitment to ensuring it will not bow to the threat of terrorism and the mechanisms used by terrorists. I welcome the decision to appoint an overall co-ordinator at European level. Every Government has a role to play, working in conjunction with the co-ordinator. It is important the legislation that needs to be put in place across the EU is debated urgently and enacted as quickly as possible.

Last week, the Seanad debated the Transfer of Execution of Sentences Bill 2003, which is not as dramatic as it sounds. The Bill was waiting debate and conclusion for a number of years, apparently. It was mentioned during the course of the debate that a number of such similar measures are awaiting final debate and conclusion. If we are to try to combat terrorism from a European perspective, it is important that national Parliaments should do their work as quickly as possible. I am sure the Minister of State will work with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to make progress in respect of any outstanding delays and to ensure we play our part in responding to terrorism.

The Minister of State gave the House an indication of the progress that has been made in finalising the proposed EU constitution. He has spoken in the Seanad about the debate on the constitution on a number of occasions. It is disappointing the matter was not resolved at last December's summit. We hope the missing pieces of the jigsaw can be put in place during the final months of the Irish Presidency. It is too early to talk about the final picture that is emerging, but the fact the Government has succeeded in getting our EU partners to sit down and to engage strongly with the matter is to be welcomed. It is in the interest of all member states — the Europe of 15 as well as the Europe of 25 — that the constitution is finalised as soon as possible so we can put the constitutional question and the constitutional test to the people of Europe.

It is possible the constitution, more than anything else, will be our response to those involved in the "Reclaim the Streets" movement and in other organisations that are anti-globalisation and anti-everything. When the people of Europe speak on the constitution of Europe, they will send the clearest possible message that the future of Europe is one of 25, and more, countries co-operating on economic, social and international issues. I wish the Government well in trying to conclude the constitutional process.

Senator Ormonde and I have debated the Lisbon strategy at great length in recent months at meetings of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. We have had interesting and lengthy debates about many broad policy matters relating to the strategy. It is appropriate, as the Minister of State said, that a group should be put in place at the halfway stage to examine the progress that has been made to date. Significant progress has been made, but it is clear from the work done by the joint committee, chaired by Deputy Gay Mitchell, that many problems remain, for example in respect of job creation, sustainability and environmental issues. We have discussed broader matters such as landfill and incineration policy at recent meetings of the joint committee and some questions remain in that regard. If the EU ensures the issues of job creation, social security and building a fair and balanced Europe are at its core, we will be moving in the rightway.

When a delegation from Macedonia addressed the Joint Committee on European Affairs last week, members of the committee asked, as they asked when other delegations addressed the committee, about the cost to the Macedonian social security system of trying to underpin the economic advances necessary for accession to the EU. The Macedonian delegation and previous delegations said that although they recognise the social pain associated with economic advances, they are willing to look at the broader picture. They know their futures will be much more secure if they join the EU, as they will be able to participate in broader free trade and a more liberal economic market. If such countries are willing to make certain sacrifices, we should be willing to work with them and to assist them in every possible way. In that regard, I hope the Lisbon strategy is progressed as quickly and strongly as possible.

The Minister of State said in his contribution that central issues such as competition and regulatory policy need to be discussed. We have to discuss issues at home if we are to put in place mechanisms to enable us to make further progress on competition and regulation. It is not simply a case of public transport but applies to a broad policy area. This great and interesting debate shows how dramatically Europe has changed, as well as how dramatically Ireland has been changed by Europe. It demonstrates, from the point of view of the social contract, the influence Ireland is having in Europe. We are benefiting from Europe and Europe is benefiting from us. That is the way it should be and long may it continue.

I would like to comment briefly on the Minister's remarks about the EU's ongoing foreign policy work, for example in respect of Kosovo, the Middle East and Afghanistan. It is sad that today's answers to such questions may not be appropriate tomorrow. The EU is well placed to work to resolve global conflicts because countries that opposed each other bitterly throughout the history of Europe have successfully come together to co-operate on certain matters. Great progress has been made in respect of the problems in Cyprus. We all hope that a united Cyprus will be in a position to join the EU at the earliest possible date.

The German initiative on Afghanistan is to be welcomed. World politics moves quickly and it easy to forget that two or three years ago, the Taliban were in charge of Afghanistan, which is now moving forward and making progress. When I think of the Taliban being in charge of Afghanistan, I am reminded of those to whom I referred at the start of my contribution who want to destroy Europe rather than help to construct it. I refer to those who want to march and to claim and take over our streets on 1 May next. I asked earlier if they have any policies and for whom they stand. In a sense, they actually are the European Taliban and the Irish Taliban. We should say "No" to such people.

I congratulate the Minister of State on his work. He can be proud of his performance in his portfolio. I wish the Government well in the next few weeks as we draw nearer to the accession of the ten new member states and the conclusion of the Irish Presidency. Given that it might be the last time that Ireland has a conventional Presidency, I hope its legacy will be a good example of what small countries can do and the role they can play in an ever-enlarging Europe.