Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I rise to acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. The anniversary falls in a moment that is particularly complex in light of the internal and external challenges that face the European Union.

The economic and social benefits generated by the membership of the EU have been incalculable for Ireland. All we have to do is look at the visible investment that the EU has put into our roads network, the opportunities presented to small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland to access European markets, the explosion of European tourism due to low-cost travel and the common currency, the ease of mobility for our citizens to study and work across Europe and the list goes on. We also cannot forget the fact that for the past 60 years there has been peace in Europe and that the concept and reality of war has been unknown for more than three generations. For the past decade, however, the mood in Europe has changed with some countries feeling that the European Union has fallen below their expectations. This has materialised in a Brexit referendum in the UK and next week, the British Prime Minister will trigger Article 50 in a planned exit from the European Union.

The challenges that face the EU include globalisation, the technology revolution, the recent global economic crisis and the biggest political crisis, which has been generated by the vast migratory flows of people from neighbouring countries. Millions of people have abandoned their countries of origin and fled to Europe to escape oppressive regimes, grave political strains, climate disasters and poor economic prospects. They seek a brighter future in Europe. Unfortunately, the inward migratory flow has engendered fear in many Europeans and been one of the main stimuli in the Brexit campaign. I believe such a reaction was wrong and this is a view shared by many of my colleagues in this Chamber. The real reason for the fear is a lack of knowledge and I believe that fear to be unwarranted.

As we all know, Europe is changing. Ultimately the benefits of our EU membership massively outweigh any perceived concerns. I look forward to participating in the Brexit debate in the Seanad Chamber and, over the course of the programme, examining the White Paper that has been prepared by the EU on the future of Europe. I also look forward to debating our membership of the EU and how we can play an active role as a committed member.

The second issue that I wish to raise is legal aid. The legal aid system in Ireland is known as free legal aid but in fact is not free because there is a small fee, starting at €130, for those in receipt of standard social welfare payments. Many women, especially those in violent situations, stay in their homes and do not seek the protection of the courts due to the fee being too high for anyone surviving on a low income.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality attended a conference in Geneva the week after we passed domestic violence legislation. One recommendation made at the conference was to grant an automatic waiver to anyone who finds himself or herself in a domestic violence situation. I call on the Tánaiste to initiate such a waiver programme, as it would allow women in domestic violence situations to seek the protection of the courts. A waiver would remove a cost that acts as a barrier. I ask the Tánaiste to urgently implement the waiver as it will assist people in domestic violence situations.