Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, for agreeing so freely to come to the House for this debate when it was mooted. If Senators think they have been short-changed by the allocation of time during this debate, I assure them that the decision to impose tighter speaking slots was taken after more than ten Senators were unable to speak during the debate on Northern Ireland last week. We had no idea that we would run out of people wanting to contribute to this debate. Perhaps it is a reflection of Senators' priorities, although I am not sure what to make of it. I think punchy debates of this nature are better than the long and rambling debates to which we have been subjected on many occasions. It is good to ask people to express their thoughts in a tighter timeframe. I appreciate the Taoiseach's decision to take time to come to the Seanad on two successive Thursdays.

This debate has been very useful. We usually hear about EU issues when a crisis is developing, or when a referendum is forthcoming. People act like busy bees on such occasions. I am glad that the White Paper on the European Constitution has been published, as it will provoke argument and debate, including on the letters page of The Irish Times. I am concerned about the failure to promote European studies in our secondary schools. I am aware that the history of the EU can be studied within the history curriculum, but we are not promoting EU matters in an adequate fashion. Young people should be encouraged to initiate debates about the whole European project.

I agree with Senator Mooney that the decision to use the convoluted and incomprehensible phrase "constitutional treaty on Europe" was unfortunate. When people hear the phrase "constitutional treaty", they think of this country's Constitution and argue that we should not give it up in favour of some European carry-on. The title that was given to a document that merely brings together some ideas which have been accepted by the people of this country in various referenda is too heavy and weighty. The grandiose title in question was frightening for some people.

Although this country has woken up to the fact that many people feel removed from the EU and find its business incomprehensible, it has not been able to make it clear to people exactly what the EU is all about by tearing away the veils of incomprehension which mask the entire EU project. I am not sure that Mr. Barroso's symbolic gesture of tearing up 70 EU directives will encourage more people to favour the EU or help to make EU matters clearer to European citizens. I do not like the idea that much of the time I spent working on legislation and statutory instruments to bring various EU directives into force has gone up in flames. I do not think the burning and tearing up of the directives is symbolic or important. It will not invoke a feeling of European comradeship among EU citizens. Mr. Barroso's gesture, which was an attempt to be fashionable, reminded me of the comments of the former Tory Minister, Mr. Michael Heseltine, who had a big mane of hair, about tearing away the layers of bureaucracy. I imagine that some adviser, with apologies to the nice adviser who is present in the Chamber, suggested to Mr. Barroso that he would be a wow and everybody would say "hear, hear" if he burned some papers.

We have come to love many of the European Union's values, such as human rights, employee rights and parity. I met a man the other night who took a case to the European Court of Justice. His case related to quite a small matter — it was not the kind of thing that would attract headlines. When he was unable to obtain justice in this jurisdiction, he took his case to the European Court of Justice and got a favourable ruling. He told me that his experience has convinced him that the EU works. Greater publicity should be given to matters which can be explored and decided on at EU level.

This is a healthy debate. I am sure that the White Paper on the European Constitution is excellent. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's closing remarks.