Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the four Senators for their contributions. Unfortunately, we heard from Sinn Féin the usual point that everything is a disaster, with no suggestions anywhere at all as to what we might do to improve the lot of people of Europe.

May I pick up on the last point on which Senator Mullins, Senator Leyden and Senator O'Keeffe touched in their contributions, namely, the issue of Britain? It was not part of the discussion on Europe 2020 but the Senators are absolutely correct to state that when we travel to other EU countries, our view on what may happen in the United Kingdom is very much solicited and sought given our proximity to that jurisdiction. I met Senator Leyden briefly before this session and we talked about the excellent work that the Joint Committee on European Affairs has undertaken in travelling to the United Kingdom over recent days. I saw the programme, which comprised a very extensive set of meetings with representatives from all sides of the debate in the United Kingdom. I very much welcome the report of the committee, which is chaired by Deputy Hannigan. From the report, I will learn the committee's interpretation and assessment of the meetings.

We are and have been absolutely forthright in stating that we want the United Kingdom to stay within the European Union. We very much have shared interests with our neighbours across the Irish Sea. With regard to many of the issues raised and discussions at EU level, we find ourselves on the same side. We have a very significant trade relationship and there has been frequent reference to our shared border with the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland and the difficulties this may present. Equally, having stated our national position that it would be in the interest of Ireland and the United Kingdom and, broadly speaking, the European Union if the United Kingdom were to remain a member state, we are still very much in a vacuum.A general election is to take place and there are different opinions. We should remind, in so far as we can, the people of the UK and our citizens that the UK has played an enormously important role in the formation of the EU. When I speak to any group, I often say it is not a question of Ireland and the EU as two separate bodies, but that we are part of a family of 28 member states. Similarly, the UK is a vital and important part of Europe and the EU and has been part of the most successful peace process the world has ever seen. After many wars over hundreds of years, culminating in the Second World War, Europe, through the coal and steel agreements and then the European Economic Community, EEC, came together as a family of nations. Sometimes, when we discuss economic issues, austerity, fiscal stability targets and excessive deficit procedures, we forget that the reason we have a family of nations is so that the terrible horrors the people of our continent faced for so many hundreds of years can never happen again. We hope the debate will be productive. While we do not know what will happen in the UK after its general election, we would support many of the interests and concerns that have been iterated by politicians on both sides in the UK. We look forward to engaging in that space.

I agree with Senator Mullins about the visibility and purpose of the Europe 2020 targets. The ambition of them is to improve the live of our citizens through education, research and development, social cohesion policies and employment targets. The targets aim to use the benefits and effects of a sometimes nebulous concept of economic growth to improve the lives of the 500 million citizens we have. As Senators O'Keeffe and Mullins said, we all have a job of communicating the importance of converting what has been a very poor period of economic stability in Europe to a period of growth and that the purpose of it is not to tick a box or fulfil an upward trajectory of a curve on a spreadsheet but to confer benefit on the people who badly need it. I particularly like Senator O'Keeffe's reference to how correcting youth unemployment will confer a benefit on people who retire. The ratio of those who retire to those who are working is crucially important, especially given the ageing demographic in Europe, which must be addressed separately. We need our young people to work and to feel they are a valuable part of European society.

Regional development is vitally important for Ireland and in all elements of dialogue we have always been, and continue to be, very aware of its importance to us as a peripheral island nation on the edge of Europe. We have extremely strong regard for regional development and will continue to work towards it. I thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to come here to discuss Europe 2020. It was the correct policy for Europe five or six years ago to set itself ambitious targets for 2020. While we are all aware of the enormous economic difficulties that beset Ireland and many European countries and set back many of the targets, some of them have been achieved.

Senator Leyden mentioned the Committee on European Union Affairs, of which he is a member and of which I was formerly a member. It is an excellent committee because it has a very co-ordinated and productive pro-European outlook, which we do not have enough of in the Oireachtas. Ireland is very pro-Europe and it is to be hoped this enthusiasm can continue to grow. I was unaware of the data Senator Mullins mentioned which show that, for the first time, the number of people who have a broadly positive view of Europe has surpassed the number who have a broadly neutral view of Europe. This is the sort of information we need to communicate, that the European project is alive and well and that there is continued space for politicians in both Houses in this country and across Europe to extol the virtues of what is a wonderful part of the world in which to live, the European Union.