Aideen Hayden (Labour)

I am also inclined to accept a certain amount of what Senator Darragh O'Brien has said. This is an incredibly important treaty. I make no excuse for saying straight up that I am very much a pro-European. I have worked and lived in Europe and have worked within the European Community. I saw at first hand back in the 1980s and 1990s the importance of Europe to this country and State.

There are many reasons we should be grateful to Europe for where we are today. I am a student of history and am also a student of economics. I have seen over many years that our history and our economic policy have been inextricably linked with the UK. Our membership of Europe, particularly our membership of the euro, has enabled us to move out from under our UK history, experience and economic dependency. That is not a small matter for this country. There is a certain colonial heritage in this country and our membership of the EU and of the euro, and our moving forward economically, has been a very important break with that link.

Obviously, what has happened economically in recent years, in particular the past 18 months, has resulted in much greater fiscal and economic answerability in this country. There is a sense that oversight does not really suit us. We have always been quite keen on the mystique of politics, the idea that knowing a politician or having influence can get a person this, that and the other. The idea that the Minister for Finance will troop up on budget day with his briefcase and reveal all, ties in very nicely with the kind of politics that goes on in this country, which is clientelism, to be fair. The reality of the matter is that we are moving very rapidly away from that type of system to a system where we have to set out our stall, declare what our economic policies are, set limits and stick to them.

I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien's point. In terms of the scorecard, would it have made a difference during the 1990s and 2000s? I believe it would have. When this economy was spiralling out of control, particularly in the construction sector, warning bells did go off. I will take this opportunity to deliver a cheap shot.