Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for attending and addressing a wide range of topics. The early 1970s saw significant changes in Ireland - the change from feet to metres, decimalisation and joining the Common Market. Regarding decimalisation, my father was an assistant bank manager in Abbeyfeale and used to have to go out to places like Brosna and Knocknagoshel. When he was explaining decimalisation to the communities, they told him that it might take on in Dublin but it would never take on in Kerry.

One of the issues that has been raised by colleagues is that of the ethics of Europe. We seem to be allowing European countries, companies and organisations to outsource manufacturing without bringing our standards to the companies that are manufacturing those clothes and other goods. By not insisting on ethical standards in working conditions for girls, women and men in India and Bangladesh, we are by default imposing and allowing 18th century working conditions. We need to insist on the highest environmental standards. We might claim we have the highest standards, but we are actually outsourcing and allowing companies to move jobs abroad while lessening standards, leading to horrific working conditions for women and young girls in some places. Regarding refugees, I was in Rome when the EU decided to close Operation Mare Nostrum. We left the rescue of people on our borders, regardless of how far away those borders were, to what were basically paramilitaries and dictatorships. In congratulating ourselves on being members for 50 years, we need to insist that Europe ensures it protects not only people within Europe, but also the most vulnerable who are supplying goods to Europe. We can use our economic power to do that.

The Commissioner's attendance is a great occasion on the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the EU. The EU has been described as the longest running peace process in the world. It continues to evolve and face challenges, and we continue to try harder and fail better, to paraphrase Beckett. We saw that with Yugoslavia and are seeing it now along our borders with Ukraine and Russia. Could we be doing more? Obviously, we could. We must ensure that Ukraine does not fail. If it does, we know someone else will be next. We need to be motivated by the lessons of the run-up to the Second World War.

It is important that we acknowledge the EU's support on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. There are people alive in Ireland today because the EU and the US got involved and because leaderships on all sides were willing to make tough decisions. Peace is not just a moment, but a process. There is ongoing EU support for programmes that need to be put in place for the most disadvantaged communities, including vulnerable kids who are living in disadvantaged areas and are being exploited by paramilitaries. Be they in the suburbs of Paris or the suburbs of Brussels, young kids who are living in economic deprivation are being exploited. Regardless of whether that is by criminals or paramilitaries, the issues are the same and support is equally vital.

This year's theme is peace and unity within Europe. It is important that we celebrate what has happened for Ireland as a result of its membership of the EU. To quote W. B. Yeats, we hope that support continues "Now and in time to be".