Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry, far right. I thank the Senator.

In the vacuum where people are not connecting with Europe it is very easy to create a message that Europe is too strong, has too much power, that the power should revert to the sovereign and that we do not want Europe interfering in our lives. That message then takes hold in the vacuum that is caused by the fact that our capacity to connect with Europe and Europe's capacity to connect with us is not as good as it should be.

Mr. Kelly is a relatively new MEP but it is often such people who can see clearly the way that might be managed into the future. I would have a serious concern as to the way that might be managed. That does not take away from the work being done by Mr. Kelly and his fellow MEPs. I am not trying to do that. I am saying that would be my biggest fear about the success of Europe. I am a Europhile and I agree that many of the changes that have occurred in Ireland occurred because we were members of the European Union but what is Mr. Kelly's view on that? What could he bring to that given that, as Senator Cummins said, he had a great deal of experience outside of politics? Is it the case that Europe is too big and that we should return to a free trade environment? Is it that the project is too big and too disparate to connect with people? I am not suggesting that. I am curious to know Mr. Kelly's view on it.

I thank Mr. Kelly. I will follow with interest the blue growth strategy because it is an extremely interesting area. I commend Mr. Kelly's work.