Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which any debate has occurred at EU level with a view to the reaffirmation of the European ideals as laid out by such persons as Monnet, Schuman and Adenauer; if attention has been given or is likely to be given to what appears to be a departure from this vision; if there is a consciousness within all member states as to the desired direction of the future of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20063/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The European Union Member States and institutions considered and debated extensively the framework for their cooperation in integration in the process that culminated in the Lisbon Treaty. That Treaty entered into force in late 2009, amending the original Treaties. In the Treaty on European Union the Member States recalled the historic importance of ending the division of the European continent and the need to create firm bases for the construction of the future Europe and set out in its 55 Articles the vision, values and institutions and procedures which should underpin this. This is a process in which Ireland took a full part and our effort now, as that of our partners, is concentrated on effective implementation.

The pre-eminent tasks facing the Union now are in the economic area. Responding to the global economic and financial crisis and the ongoing difficulties in the euro area represents the greatest challenge to face Member States since the foundation of the European Union. Underlying our response to the crisis is a shared and enduring commitment to the European project. The unprecedented steps we have taken are proof of a European Union that is working more closely together than ever before.

There is a healthy ongoing debate about the future of Europe, in our media, in our universities and in a range of European policy institutes and think-tanks. This debate holds the political leaders of Europe to account and contributes to a wider assessment of the extent to which their actions measure up to the ideals of the founders of the European Union.

Regular engagement with this debate is an important element of my wider diplomatic initiative, whether in the regular media briefings I give to European journalists, the most recent of which was in Berlin last Friday; or in my frequent contacts with diverse policy institutes across Europe. Recent examples of these include speeches to the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin and the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. I am looking forward to meeting members of the European Policy Centre in Brussels next week in advance of attending the Foreign Affairs Council to continue the debate about the sort of Europe we want to build.