Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad he is doing his duty for the country in representing us very well. He seems to be very and is hard working. It comes as no surprise that he is taking such a serious approach to his representation of the country at European level.

Having recently assumed the portfolio of Seanad spokesperson on European affairs, I have spent the past few months sitting on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, representing Ireland at COSAC and raising European issues regularly in the Seanad in the media. As we are now in a post-EU Presidency stage I am glad that the Government is still displaying such a healthy commitment to fostering strong, working relationships throughout Europe. The Minister of State also mentioned bilateral relationships, which are very important. The creation of the portfolio of Seanad spokesperson on European affairs is an indicator of the Government's attention to Europe in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Three witnesses appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs yesterday and Dr. O'Brennan, in particular, mentioned how much we need to up our game in the Houses of the Oireachtas when it comes to scrutiny of European legislation. The upcoming European Parliament elections can play a role in cementing a positive, constructive relationship with the Parliament, as was mentioned at the committee meeting already this morning. There is a danger of repetition for the Minister of State who has the two engagements so close together.

As we know, Greece started its fifth Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January. Its four priorities are very appropriate to us. They are growth, jobs and cohesion; further integration of the EU and eurozone; migration, borders and mobility; and maritime policies. As we discussed earlier in the committee, the Greek Presidency is under pressure to deliver on a wide range of outstanding legislation before the elections in May.

The EU is facing many challenges on a number of fronts - politically, economically and perhaps socially. The accession of Croatia has taken place successfully, but work remains to be done with Bosnia Herzegovina. On the Eastern border the strife in Ukraine poses many dilemmas. The UK "in-out" referendum poses a significant challenge and would have a detrimental effect on Ireland if it comes to pass. Portugal is moving in a direction that we have moved in and we are seen as leaders in this regard. Our reputation, according to the guests at the committee yesterday, has very much been restored at a European and international level.

In March Dublin will host the congress of the European People's Party of which Fine Gael is a member. It is an honour that will see several Heads of State and Government coming to Dublin to meet, to debate and to work on a number of issues which face the EU. This will be the backdrop for a ten-week national conversation on Europe, Ireland and our relationship. People often ask what Europe does for them and often feel disconnected from Europe, as we discussed at this morning's committee meeting. However, on the whole Ireland is very much pro-Europe, and the people realise the role the EU has played in the past and continues to play in our daily lives.

The Minister of State recently said: "Ireland is an integrated and committed member of the EU and, with the consent of our people, will remain so. With all of its imperfections, difficulties and frustrations, however, it still offers the best platform for our country to represent and advance what is in our national interest". I could not agree more. People can be frustrated by EU decision-making and its perceived remoteness, a matter the Minister of State mentioned at this morning's committee meeting. It is a perceived remoteness when we think of some of the examples the Minister of State mentioned, such as roaming charges and plain tobacco packaging. It is clear that the EU gets credit for some things, but considerable work remains.

The number of Google employees in Dublin recently passed the 2,000 mark. We can be in no doubt that if Ireland were not a member of the EU, Google would not have that number of employees. In the months ahead, we will see the phased abolition of mobile telephone roaming rates, which is solely down to the EU, for which I hope it gets credit.

The upcoming European Parliament elections will result in Ireland having 11 out of 751 members. We need to ensure we have people of calibre, as are most of the candidates of which I have heard. It is all the more important for us to have people to represent us very well in Europe. As I mentioned at the committee meeting, there is a role for our national broadcaster in communicating to the people the achievements of the EU as well as its agenda and other issues with which it deals.

One of the witnesses at yesterday's committee meeting - I cannot remember if it was Dr. O'Brennan or Mr. Connelly from RTE - mentioned Ireland's role during the EU Presidency in the negotiation of the trade agreements with the US. While we have a very well established relationship with the US, it has been suggested that whoever is negotiating at present may be struggling and the Irish might need to play a fuller role in that regard.

Ukraine is of great interest to people. Based on its population and land mass, the country offers great potential. At the moment it seems to be suffering from Russian oppression. While there seems to be a major focus on it, I hope it will continue. I again thank the Minister of State for coming to the House today.