Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. Sometimes, we forget that the primary success of the EU has been peace. Monday was Europe Day, when we celebrated the Schuman Declaration. The Schuman plan was to establish long-term peace in post-war Europe. It has been a considerable success, as Senator O'Reilly stated.

Europe has grown in strength at a time of crisis, with what Bono called "one man's war" bringing Europe together like never before. Although it has been the Continent's darkest hour since the Second World War, it has also been one of its proudest hours, with European countries working together. Since the Second World War, the Continent has been an entirely more positive landscape than it was beforehand.

On Europe Day, it was poignant to welcome dozens of displaced Ukrainians to Barretstown Castle in Ballymore Eustace, where they had a wonderful engagement with the Ukrainian ambassador and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. The irony was not lost on us that, while we were celebrating Europe Day, we had as our special guests Ukrainians who, although we had made them welcome in this country, would have loved to have been able to return to their own country. Imagine being moved out of your home and told that you were heading to Ukraine. It would turn your life upside down.

Ironically, we have to thank Putin for bringing Europe closer together. He has also indirectly had a positive impact on the world and Europe's view on fossil fuels. Sales of fossil fuels to Europe supply Putin with tanks and bombs.

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the people of Ireland voting by referendum to take their place among the nations of Europe. It was a lifetime ago. I commend "The Late Late Show" of the time, which put on a mock trial, although I am not old enough to remember it. In recent weeks, Mr. Justice John D. Cooke passed away. He had served in the High Court and in Europe. He was one of the actors in the mock trial, as were Mr. Justice Donal Barrington, Mr. Justice Thomas Finlay and other judges. That trial extrapolated the issues. The broadcast was ahead of its time and drilled down into what accession would mean for Ireland. Thankfully, Ireland gave Europe the thumbs up.

We look to Europe for workers' rights and a lead on climate change. We must do more, though. Some of the issues that my colleagues, Ms Grace O'Sullivan MEP and Mr. Ciarán Cuffe MEP, have raised in the European Parliament are important, for example, limiting toxic industrial chemicals in our products, given that such chemicals pose a threat to the environment. Ms O'Sullivan was rapporteur on the Environment Action Programme, which will phase out fossil fuel subsidies in ten years' time. Mr. Cuffe has been leading the way on the issue of embodied carbon in buildings and measuring it over a building's lifespan.

Europe Day provides us the opportunity, not only to reflect on the successes of the past, but to look to the future. I was intrigued to read President Emmanuel Macron's vision – I congratulate him on his recent electoral success – for the EU. In a speech he delivered recently in Strasbourg, he argued for a multi-speed Union. This idea can be controversial, but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Certain member states could go further than others in certain policy areas. President Macron also argued for a broader European neighbourhood community, which would be available to those that were considering joining the EU, like Ukraine, and those that had left but would like to co-operate in a greater way, for example, the UK. In the latter respect, I am also thinking of a special dispensation for Northern Ireland to have its voice heard in a more formal way. This idea would have the advantage of granting some level of co-operation to countries that may require years or decades to meet the strict criteria for joining the EU.

Today is about embracing and celebrating the EU. It is wonderful to be here today and to have all of these parliamentarians speaking positively about a growing, living project that changes by the week and year. It is important that Ireland be at the forefront of that project.