Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is quite momentous to mark Ireland's 50-year membership of the European Union. From a Fianna Fáil perspective, this is something of which we have always been very proud. It is something that Seán Lemass and Jack Lynch led on. It is interesting that the only two parties sitting here are the only two parties that have consistently supported our membership of the European Union over those 50 years and campaigned for its enlargement and for enhanced co-operation. As colleagues have said, it is very much a union based on principles of peace and prosperity. Those were the driving forces behind its establishment and remain its guiding principles today.

I will make a number of suggestions as regards things we can do to enhance understanding of the EU and encourage greater co-operation in areas where that can work. I will also address some concerns that have been raised.

I know the Minister of State is passionate about greater teaching of languages and a greater uptake of modern European languages, which are important. We need to invest in a European languages initiative from primary school onward to a far greater extent. While I know that efforts are being made, we should seek to ensure that every Irish citizen will, in the future, be fluent in Irish, English and at least one modern European language. We should set and pursue that objective for ourselves for the medium to long term.

Many colleagues have spoken about the Erasmus programme. We need to continue to broaden the appeal of the Erasmus programme. One of the challenges has always been that Ireland takes in twice as many Erasmus students as we send out. We have to encourage far more Irish students to avail of the programme. The DiscoverEU programme, which has been very successful, is limited to 35,000 18-year-olds. I believe we should set a goal of every 18-year-old within the European Union being able to avail of that programme.

Robert Schuman famously talked about how a lot of the European Union would be forged through crisis. We have seen a number of crises over recent years, from Brexit to Covid and the war in Ukraine. The European Union has moved and addressed issues in a way that many of us thought it would not do. It did so in response to those crises, particularly that in Ukraine. We should be proud of the leadership shown by Ireland, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs with regard to Ukraine. Like my colleagues, I strongly support the rapid accession of Ukraine, Georgia and, indeed, other countries in the Balkans.

There has been a useful initiative whereby the Cathaoirleach has invited Members of the European Parliament to the Chamber to exchange views. I would certainly like to see that continue. However, we need to look at the broader question of enhanced co-operation at EU level. Co-operation on issues such as the war in Ukraine and Covid has shown that solutions that benefit all citizens of the European Union can be found and that such co-operation is advantageous. I am thinking of areas that have already been referred to including the areas of food security, energy security, the climate and biodiversity crisis, and cybersecurity. It is absolutely essential that member states co-operate very closely.

Every so often, we hear this nonsense that comes up about an EU army. In every single European referendum campaign since the start, Sinn Féin has raised this nonsense fear about an EU army. Let us be very clear; every country and member state will maintain control over its own defence forces but there has to be co-operation between member states. I particularly encourage greater co-operation with the non-aligned member states such as Finland, Sweden and Austria on some of the issues that are really important to this country.We have to collectively be able to address food and energy security and particularly now. We have discussed the idea that it is better Irish wind than Russian oil and gas.

Ireland has always played a very constructive role at the European table. However, we need to address some of the voices at European level which are bringing shame on Ireland's reputation, particularly where we stood up for the rule of law and for human rights. I am talking in particular about some of our MEPs. While we can criticise them inside this House, action also must be taken by the hard left GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament. In the same way that some of us criticised the EPP for its tolerance of Viktor Orbán for a long time, so Sinn Féin and the other hard left parties need to be called out for continuing to tolerate the membership of Mick Wallace and Clare Daly in that group within the European Parliament. They are bringing embarrassment on Ireland. They are not adhering to the European spirit of co-operation and respect for the rule of law and human rights. In our vision for where we see Europe going those remain fundamental to Ireland's role at the heart of Europe.