Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil could not do that until the Progressive Democrats had departed the scene.

The Council's decision of June 2013 provided for the holding of elections to the European Parliament this year. Many of the concerns expressed by Senators are not, as Senator Bradford noted, really relevant in the context of the forthcoming elections. However, those concerns, some of which relate to the task facing any candidate, are genuine. I considered how we might provide financial assistance to people wishing to stand in the European elections but the in light of the current climate, such assistance would be perceived as giving additional support to politicians at a time when the country is under financial pressure. That is regrettable but it is representative of the sort of herd mentality with which one must deal. When that mentality takes over, the common sense debate relating to various issues involved, including the scale of the financial resources required by individuals and parties, goes out the window. Perhaps on some future occasion, and when times are better financially, we might consider providing additional support - based on 20% or 25% of the quota being reached - in order to foster greater participation in all of the European constituencies. That would, of course, be if we decide to continue with constituencies of the geographical scale outlined in the independent report.

From time to time there is a disconnect from the European scene. If, however, difficulties arose in the context of the financial supports for groups in society that are represented by the IFA, IBEC or the social partners, it would not be long before they were brought to our attention in terms of the connectivity required to obtain the necessary resources from the European Union. Regardless of the nature of any crisis which might arise, one regularly hears public representatives state that a case must be made to Europe. Making a case to Europe happens on an across-the-board basis. Had the European Union, its institutions and the IMF not supported us by means of the programme of assistance, we would not have had access to a cheap source of money similar to that which sustained the country in recent times. Some people wanted to know whether we should have remained in the programme of assistance in view of the fact that we were obtaining money at such a low rate. We can be the architects of our own problems on those occasions when we do not challenge certain people's dismissive approach to the European Union. Some might say that the EU does not assist us but massive amounts of money come into our country via the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the various rural development programmes. What we are asked to do is provide funds to match those which continue to be provided to us by the EU despite the fact that Ireland is in a much better place than was the case when it joined the then EEC in 1973.

I will investigate the matter raised by Senator Colm Burke whereby our national broadcaster has decided that it is appropriate to broadcast programmes relating to an entity such as the EU, which has a major influence on Irish affairs, at an hour when they are only seen by those who suffer from insomnia. The national broadcaster should be made aware of the Senator's view, and that of the House in general, to the effect that there must be greater connectivity between the parliamentary institutions and the Irish people in the context of the work of the European Union.