Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We need to have public confidence in their ability to influence their future.

This leads me to my final concern, which is trade. Far too often we have the simple narrative that a person is either for or against trade or has an open or a protectionist position. We must listen to citizens who say that they want international trade but that it needs to be done well. Some of the models put forward, for example, CETA and TTIP, have failed the test. It is of note that the Court of Justice of the European Union is currently considering the legality of investor-court systems. I suggest that this is an opportunity for governments to say that, now its legality is being considered, perhaps we need to re-examine the issue to see if it is an appropriate element to include in our international trade agreements.We should not ratify the trade agreement even though we already have provisional application.

This is also vitally important because people constantly get the signal that the corporate lobby is strongly represented in Europe. Citizens must see that they are represented in Europe. Again, the decision by the European Court of Justice that citizens' initiatives must be listened to is positive in that regard.

In my final sentence I note that like everyone present, I am passionate about Europe but we need to engage and be willing to enter discussions with a critical and open mindset. If we get things right in Europe and if we show that diverse nations and peoples can live together and work alongside one other in interparliamentary and intergovernmental structures with social solidarity that crosses borders as well, we will send a positive signal of what it might be to be humans in the world as we all face global challenges together. That is a huge prize we have in Europe and something for which we need to aim.