Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is. I wish the Senators well. It is lovely.

I begin by thanking the Cathaoirleach, Senator Neale Richmond and Seanad Members for inviting me to address the House today on the future of Europe. I am a firm believer that the national parliaments contribute actively to the good functioning of the European Union. The Lisbon treaty includes provisions which encourage greater involvement by national parliaments in the activities of the Union and it enhances their ability to express their views on draft legislation emerging from the Union. Commission consultation documents, the Commission's annual legislative programme and draft legislation are sent to national parliaments at the same time as they are sent to the European Parliament and the Council. The treaty allows national parliaments to send reasoned opinions to the presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council and the Commission on whether a draft piece of legislation complies with the principle of subsidiarity.

These are important provisions. They apply in equal measure to Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann, and each House is entitled to avail of them in its own right. Representative democracy is at the heart of the European project and these new provisions were brought into domestic legislation in Ireland by the European Union Act 2009. I believe these provisions enhance the right of every citizen to participate in the democratic life of the Union. We often think of Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg when we think of the European Union because those are the cities where the various institutions have their seats but Europe is not at all that remote since we do Europe's business when we do business in this House or in the parliament of any member state across the Union.

That is why the Union’s values of freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human life and rights, are so important. Without them, the lives of millions of Europeans would be greatly diminished. Elsewhere in the world, many people know how it is when only lipservice is paid to these values. They understand the cost to the quality of their lives and, increasingly, they look to Europe as a place where European values exist and that approach is taken to the issue of the day, such as climate change, globalisation and social progress. This makes a real and often enviable difference. When the leaders of the EU 27 met in Bratislava last year, after the referendum in the UK in which it decided to leave the European Union, their immediate focus was on meeting the expectations of citizens and on recommitting to our core values. Citizens and values were at the heart of their preoccupations for the future of Europe. It was stated:

The EU is not perfect but it is the best instrument we have for addressing the new challenges we are facing. We need the EU not only to guarantee peace and democracy but also the security of our people. We need the EU to serve better their needs and wishes to live, study, work, move and prosper freely across our continent and benefit from the rich European cultural heritage.

I very much believe that we need to acknowledge that there was perhaps a reason that the UK decided to leave the European Union and we need to work towards the European Union working for and delivering for citizens. There has been broad agreement across member states that, at this stage in its development, the Union needs to focus on outcomes rather than just institutions. Across the member states, the fundamental importance of the European Union in dealing with the issues affecting us is also recognised. When the leaders of the EU 27 met earlier this year in Rome, they said they, "want a Union that is safe and secure, prosperous, competitive, sustainable and socially responsible, and with the will and capacity of playing a key role in the world and of shaping globalisation."

I am particularly pleased that the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs is paying such close attention to this process. I know some Members here are members of that committee, which has launched a consultation process on the future of Europe. I encourage all interested groups and individuals to make their submissions before the closing date on Friday, 20 October. The committee has already heard from the National Youth Council of Ireland, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Macra Na Feirme, IBEC and the European Movement Ireland and I look forward to reading the committee's completed report soon.

The committee's consultation process and today's debate here in the Seanad are excellent examples of how national parliaments can contribute to the better functioning of the European Union. The emphasis we share on citizens is at the heart of the European Commission's White Paper on the future of Europe and of the five reflection papers the Commission has produced in the meantime. The White Paper sets out five scenarios for the future of Europe ranging from simply carrying on as we are to being more ambitious and doing much more together, and various other scenarios. The reflection papers are wide-ranging and they provide a set of options. They deal with the social dimension, harnessing globalisation, deepening our economic and monetary union, the future of European defence and future arrangements for the EU budget. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive or exclusive, but it is a base to start a discussion.

Our starting point on these issues has to be to focus on the needs and concerns of our citizens. This includes a focus on jobs and growth, opportunities for young people, completion of the Single Market and the key role of the EU in meeting the challenges of today's globalised world, from climate change to combatting international terrorism. As any Member of the House will have noticed, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, gave his state of the Union address to the European Parliament last month and later the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, launched his own initiatives on Europe. While both speeches added a new impetus to the future of Europe process which began at the Bratislava summit in September of last year, it is important to put these speeches in context. Each is a contribution to the debate but there are 27 member states, each with its own voice, perspective and view on what should and could work for the Union as a whole.

The future of Europe was discussed informally by EU Heads of State and Government at a summit in Tallinn at the end of September. The Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, spoke for Ireland and it was agreed that the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, would consult bilaterally with member states on substance and process and continue the discussion at the next European Council meeting, which is next week. In Tallinn it was noticeable that many member states, including Ireland, took an approach rooted in the path set out by the Heads of State and Government in Bratislava and Rome, focused on delivering for citizens.

Without pre-empting that debate, I believe our thinking should reflect Ireland’s priorities. I do not want to be exhaustive on this but our priorities should include the completion of the internal market, especially in services and the digital Single Market, an area in which we feel we can lead. They should also include the reduction of administrative burdens and compliance costs on small and medium enterprises.

Combatting youth and long-term unemployment must be a priority for all member states. Investment in infrastructure, research and innovation should be a priority, as should the negotiation of trade and investment agreements with third countries, and we have seen agreements with Canada and China in recent months. The completion of the banking union, promoting access to low-carbon energy and tackling climate change must also be priorities. Finally, we all need to stand together on preventing international crime and terrorism. Above all, we need an honest and fair debate which confronts the myths about the European Union and that is calm, considered and inclusive. This is how we will formulate a contribution that reflects the concerns and expectations of the Irish people.

I look forward to hearing Senators' ideas and comments today. I thank them again for the opportunity to engage with them on this matter of significant national importance.