Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of Senator Feargal Quinn on the potential exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. We all acknowledge that it would have far-reaching ramifications for all of Europe but particularly Ireland. Ireland is particularly vulnerable not only because it is the United Kingdom's closest neighbour but also because it is it's largest trading partner. We will all follow the general election campaign which starts in earnest today and watch the outcome with great interest. It will obviously have a significant bearing on whether a referendum will take place. It is likely to take place because any political grouping that will come into power is likely to hold it such is the public's desire for it. A discussion in this House would, therefore, be useful. It would not just be a general discussion of the potential effects because we are all fully aware of them but also a discussion of what we could do to influence public opinion in the United Kingdom. We are obviously small in the context of the size of the population of the United Kingdom, but we should think about some useful methods by which we could somehow influence the debate there in the run-up to the referendum.

I support Senator Paul Bradford's comments on having fixed general election terms. It would be an excellent idea for the country. Much of what political commentators like to speculate on concerns when the Government will slip on a banana skin causing an election. Enjoyable as that may be, having fixed terms in the political system would make a lot of sense in the case of local, European and general elections and would result in far more certainty.