Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I am struck by the debate taking place on the euro. I spent the past four days in Paris participating in a programme organised by the French Government under which members of various parliaments seek to understand developments in other countries and various views on the euro. On Monday, I spent some time with individuals who were involved in discussions over the weekend on how to handle the situation in Greece and possible future developments.

In the past three years, I have repeatedly argued in the House that the national question is no longer the relationship between the South and North but how a small, open and profoundly globalised economy such as this handles its relationship with Europe. Three points must be made in the current debate. First, the issue of economic government as opposed to economic governance has entered the European debate again. There is a major difference between these two concepts and we must acknowledge the powerful voices raising the issue of economic government. The issue should be discussed in the Oireachtas.

Second, if the observations made by the European Commission on Ireland's budgets in 2003, 2004 and 2005 had been listened to and acted upon, we would not be experiencing the current degree of difficulty. The Commission's observations have proven to be correct.

The third point, which is one that will inflame Irish people, is that a proposal is afoot to extend greater powers of surveillance to the European Union than those currently enjoyed by Members of the Oireachtas. This is a key Commission proposal. The imbalance needs to be rectified.

None of my repeated calls for a debate on the future evolution of the euro has been acceded to. In the past two or three weeks my party has called for a discussion of the issue and none has taken place. If we do not create a space for a calm and constructive debate on the issue, it is inevitable that sharper voices will be heard.