Senators:

Thank you. When I was leader of the EPP-ED group in the European Parliament for seven and half years I always had six minutes to make my speeches. I do not know how many minutes are available here. An elderly female colleague from Luxembourg once said to me that I had six minutes and she had only one minute and she asked that I give her two minutes of my time. That would be a little fairer. I have to answer all these intelligent and wise remarks in ten minutes. There is a difference between being intelligent and wise. I am an honorary professor but would say that sometimes it would be good if professors were less intelligent and more wise. I will, however, try to answer in ten minutes.

Senators:

I refer to Senator Donie Cassidy's comments and to neutrality, corporate tax and what the Lisbon treaty means. Nobody, no country, no European Parliament, no European Commission or no Council of Ministers can define or change Ireland's status of neutrality. It is its position and decision and nobody in the world or in Europe can tell the Irish people to change its position. If it wants to keep neutrality, then that is its position.

Senators:

Although Ireland is expressly in favour of neutrality, it is engaged in human rights in the world. My country, Germany, is engaged in Afghanistan under the framework of NATO but it is not engaged in Chad. Ireland is engaged in Chad to defend human rights there. This is a responsible position. Nobody can force Ireland to enter NATO. This is Ireland's position and decision and if somebody says this will change as a result of the Lisbon treaty, it is a lie. We must be frank about it. What one colleague from the European Parliament is saying about abortion is misleading and is a lie. He knows it is a lie. Nothing changes in this context.

Senators:

I refer to the question of corporate tax. Under the Lisbon treaty, a unanimous vote in respect of tax questions is required. This means that without the agreement of Ireland, nothing can change. If people say there will be a change with the Lisbon treaty, they are not telling the truth. Most of them are lying. Lying means saying something wrong and knowing it is wrong. I have trust in the Irish people that they will realise people from outside this country are not telling the truth.

Senators:

I would like ministers from countries which regard themselves as great countries to be a little bit more wise and reluctant in making statements. I will do my utmost to make sure these misleading remarks do not continue. I assure Senators that the position in respect of neutrality, taxes and abortion will not change. Decisions in respect of these questions are for the Irish people. I thank Senator Donie Cassidy for his comments.

Senators:

Senator Frances Fitzgerald kindly referred to what I said about Ireland's peacekeeping in the world and its defence of human rights. I met Senator Leyden in Athens. The Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly is very important because it brings together representatives of the 27 countries of the European Union, including representatives of the most important chambers, such as the Seanad represented by Senator Leyden, and members of other parliaments of the European Union, the European Parliament and all parliaments from Turkey to Morocco, including Palestine and Israel. On 13 July in Paris a decision will be made about the Barcelona process and the proposals of President Sarkozy. We now have the right framework in that all countries of the European Union will be involved whereas some had been left outside. In the first proposal, Ireland and Germany were not involved. We thought this was wrong so Ireland, Germany and others are now in. I thank the Senator for the encouragement as far as that is concerned.

Senators:

I refer to social Europe and related questions. We must always defend the dignity of the human being. Each citizen in the European Union and, of course, in the world must create the basis for his or her life. I do not agree with those who want to make everything equal in the European Union. For instance, it is up to the nations to decide on pension systems. This is one of the disputes, that is, whether we want to harmonise things. Some people want to harmonise most things while other speak about the identity of the nations.

Senators:

We must always try to find the answers to specific questions. One cannot give a general answer to all questions. With my political beliefs, I try to be somewhere in the centre. Sometimes I am a little bit left of the centre and sometimes a little bit right of it but the main road is the centre. I have always appreciated that in the context of Ireland. Wherever it stands politically, it has a good approach — a policy of being in the centre.

Senators:

Senator Frances Fitzgerald referred to climate change. There is now much discussion about CO2 reductions in the car industry, other industry and so on. We must each ask ourselves how we can reduce our energy consumption. We must work hard to ensure deforestation does not continue. Therefore, we need good co-operation with countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and others. I have spoken about military alliances already.

Senators:

The accession to citizens was raised in many questions. I am still chairman of my party in my region of the western part of Lower Saxony, not the Free State of Saxony which is in eastern Germany. I am from the north west of Germany, Hanover-Osnabrück. I believe we have three, four or even five political identities. One is at local level where everything starts. For people living in Kilkee, Ireland does not start in Dublin but in Kilkee which is where they start to be an Irish person. As a result of Irish nationality, one gets European citizenship. In my case, it starts at local level and at the regional level of Lower Saxony, and Ireland has its regions as well. It then moves to national and European level. That is four identities. We then have a responsibility to the world. If we see things that way, we can combine the different levels.

Senators:

I refer to Senator Dan Boyle's comments. I am a Christian Democrat and I have been criticised by my political friends in the European Parliament for being so engaged in the question of climate change. People might have different reasons. I like to speak about creation but others might have a different approach. If our world is to survive, it is vital to take the necessary measures in the field of climate change. However, time does not allow me to go too much into the details. As far as the democratic deficit is concerned, when I started in the European Parliament in 1979 we had zero legislative competences. The Council of Ministers did not consult us when taking decisions. It was often not the Council of Ministers but officials who took the legal decisions. I have great respect for officials but it is not their job to make decisions. Representatives elected by the people must make the legal decisions. This has been changed.

Senators:

Under the Lisbon treaty our legislative power as a European Parliament is almost 100%. Taxes are excluded and that is why it is not 100%. We share legislative power with the Council of Ministers. The Commission President is elected by the European Parliament and it must respect the result of the elections in making its proposal. The Commission requires the confidence vote of Parliament.

Senators:

On foreign policy, I have been always an advocate of a strong Europe in respect of world politics. However, we do not always have to do the same thing. If Ireland does not want to send troops to Iraq or to support the war in Iraq, it has a right to say so. I could not imagine a situation whereby the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament or Commission could decide whether a country should send troops to war in foreign countries. It is for Ireland, with the agreement of the people, to do this and nobody in Brussels or Strasbourg can make that decision. This must be clear. Development will be in the future.

Senators:

I would as many countries as possible to have the same policy. However, those countries that do not wish to join should not be forced to do so. They should do what they believe is right. This is a good principle in respect of foreign affairs. It is a position that works.

Senators:

Senator Feargal Quinn mentioned he spent one year in Europe. Ireland is also part of Europe and as such he has spent his whole life in Europe, which I appreciate. I am fascinated by what he had to say. I wish I had the time to spend one year outside my own country, a privilege enjoyed by Senator Quinn. Perhaps Senator Quinn will tell me in what country he spent that year.