Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the European Union in principle remains committed to the principle of unity of purpose in respect of economic, monetary, political and social institutions notwithstanding the emergence of extreme political viewpoints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36552/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Europe has been through somedifficult years. We have seen deep economic crises which have affected a number of member states, including Ireland; there have been terror attacks in some of our major cities which have caused appalling suffering for individuals and communities. The Continent has been grappling with the biggest movement of people seen in peacetime coming from our southern neighbourhood and further afield. Parties from the far-right have made electoral inroads in a number of EU states and for the first time in the Union’s history, a member state has decided to leave.

Despite these enormous challenges, Europe has not disintegrated. 27 Heads of State and Government meeting in Bratislava in September issued a declaration stating that the Union was “indispensable” for them and pledging to offer EU citizens in the upcoming months a vision of an attractive EU they can trust and support. Ireland will work with its partners, as a committed EU member, to bring that vision to fruition. We will succeed only if we maintain the unity of purpose to which the Deputy refers.