Tá tábhacht bhreise ag baint le Lá na hEorpa i mbliana do mhuintir na hÉireann. Táimid ag comóradh 50 bliain mar bhall den Aontas Eorpach. Bhí ról tábhachtach ag ár mballraíocht i bhforbairt na tíre seo ó 1973 i leith. This year's Europe Day has additional significance for the Irish people. We are marking 50 years as a member of the European Union. Our membership has played an important part in our country's development since 1973. The story of a modern, prosperous, and progressive 21st century Ireland is interwoven with the development of the European Union. It is impossible to talk about trade and the economy, farming and food, the green agenda, peace on this island or the development of citizens' rights without reference to the role played by our EU membership. Regional, structural and agricultural funds in particular have helped provide vital investment in essential infrastructure, in our rural and farming communities and in the education and training of our people. It is the story of an extraordinary transformation that I hope will offer inspiration to those countries now looking to join the EU, from Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia to the countries of the western Balkans.

The European Union is, first and foremost, built on a set of values and on the rule of law and the treaties that underpin it. This underpins the sharing of sovereignty and deep-rooted co-operation between member states. These values include respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and human rights. We live in a European Union in which democracy, freedom of religion, the rule of law, rejection of the death penalty, basic rights for LGBT people and equality between men and women are the norm. This is not the case on most other continents.

Founded in the aftermath of the devastation of the Second World War, the European Union was conceived as a peace project. John Hume, one of our greatest statesmen, saw in the European Union a model and a vision for how a lasting peace could be built. The European Union was a dependable partner throughout the peace process and remains resolute in its support for the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement. Without the courage and vision of leaders from right across the political traditions of these islands, we would not have the peace we enjoy today. We would not have had prosperity or investment on the scale we have experienced. As we face new challenges, we should not lose sight of this. We will continue to engage with all communities and traditions on the island to build a vision for our shared future with an inclusive, constructive approach, underpinned by the agreement.

The Windsor Framework recently agreed between the EU and the UK can play an essential role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and in providing economic opportunities to Northern Ireland. It is critically important that we continue this partnership approach and that the framework is implemented fully and in good faith. I hope we are marking a positive new departure for EU-UK relations that will allow us to forge a stronger partnership to overcome shared global challenges and create an opportunity for an improved British-Irish partnership. My current focus is on getting the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement up and running across all three strands. The framework is clearly for and about Northern Ireland, about providing the stability and predictability that Northern Ireland needs. I firmly hope the Windsor Framework will play a role in securing additional investment for Northern Ireland, as well as in offering real economic benefits to us. The framework has been welcomed by the business community in the North, which has expressed a genuine desire to move forward and take advantage of the opportunities and economic certainty it offers.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Single Market, which opened the door to Ireland’s economic success. As we reflect on the development of the Single Market, it is fitting to recall the significant role played by the late Minister and former Senator James Dooge. During Ireland's Presidency of the Council in 1984, James Dooge was appointed to chair a group tasked with making suggestions for improving European co-operation. There were concerns at the time that Europe’s economy risked falling behind in the face of new global competition and that its development needed new strategic impetus. James Dooge’s Ad Hoc Committee for Institutional Affairs reported to the European Council in Dublin in December 1984. Its conclusions provided the political underpinnings for the action plan adopted by the Delors Commission in 1985 to abolish all physical and technical barriers to free movement in the Community within seven years.

The Single European Act came into force in 1987 with the clear aim of stimulating industrial and commercial expansion in a large, unified economic area. The Single Market is now the cornerstone of the European economy and a driver of innovation and prosperity, reducing transaction costs, aligning regulatory standards and rules and opening access to a market of more than 450 million people. The Council and Commission have correctly identified that the further reduction of barriers, especially for services, is essential if it is to remain the primary driver of the EU's competitiveness. In my contributions to the European Council, I have emphasised that Europe’s long-term strategy for future prosperity must be based on our economic strengths and on ensuring the right market conditions for investment and entrepreneurship in the decades ahead. This includes greater mobilisation of public and private resources through the European research and innovation system. We also need to develop our capital markets to finance new fast-growing firms at the technological frontier of the twin transitions of digital and green. Our Single Market must also be complemented by an open and ambitious trade policy, based on the highest levels of co-operation with trusted partners, in order that we can advance global prosperity. We must protect the multilateral rules-based system and defend against unfair trading practices. We should see the Single Market as a level playing field for the member states, which was built as a driver of 21st century standards, especially social and environmental standards.

Climate change is the single greatest threat facing humanity today. We must be the generation that turns the tide on climate change and biodiversity loss. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, tells us that human activity has already caused the global temperature to reach more than 1oC above pre-industrial levels. The scale of this change is unprecedented. The European Union is the world’s leader in spearheading the fight against climate change. It has made the green transition a core objective; endorsed a binding target of a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 of at least 55%; and aims to become the first climate-neutral continent by the middle of the century. With its member states, the EU is also the largest provider of climate finance in the world, helping developing countries to deal with the adverse effects of climate change. The Fit for 55 landmark package of ambitious climate policy measures will be formally agreed in the coming weeks and will turn ambition into action. Europe’s response to the pandemic, particularly in funding and procuring vaccines, showed us what can be achieved when we work in unison for the common good. We now need to harness this same ambition and commitment to confront climate change.

The energy crisis caused by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine reinforces the need for Europe to accelerate the radical transformation of our energy system. This includes placing energy security, efficiency, energy saving, diversification and an acceleration towards renewables at the heart of our climate and energy policies. At the recent North Sea Summit in Ostend, I made it clear that Ireland is ready to play its part. We have a sea area that is seven times bigger than our landmass and we are home to Europe’s best wind speeds. Developing our offshore wind energy capacity will, over time, eliminate our dependence on imported fossil fuels and allow Ireland to achieve energy independence within a generation. This is our moonshot, giving us energy security and price stability and creating new jobs and industries in all parts of Ireland as well as reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We will work closely with our regional partners and the European Commission to provide the offshore grids and electricity interconnection that will enable the trading of offshore renewable energy with the rest of Europe. The Celtic interconnector between Ireland and France should be seen as just the start.

As public representatives, we recognise the tangible benefits that European Union membership brings. The ability to work, live and study freely across the European Union is immensely valuable. It is not only about economics. We share a common currency with 19 other member states, reducing transaction costs and easing trade and travel. For students, participation in the Erasmus programme and studying abroad has opened the door to new cultures, languages and career paths.

More than 10 million students have had their lives enriched through this programme, initiated by the former Irish EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland. Many people make friends for life through Erasmus+ and many people find life partners through Erasmus+ and start new families.

Travel is more accessible and affordable because of the single European sky and European legislation has increased safety standards and improved passenger rights. Mobile phones can be used across the European Union without any additional roaming charges. Irish consumers can safely and easily buy goods and services throughout the EU. Equal pay for equal work, family leave and many other workers’ rights derive from and are protected by European law. The European health insurance card and the cross-border directive provide for free or reduced cost healthcare across the wider European Economic Area when we need it.

As someone born after Ireland joined the European Economic Community, EEC, I have always lived with the benefits of European membership but I have never taken them for granted, having canvassed for a "Yes" vote in every referendum put to the people of this country on Europe since I was 19 years old. European integration is fundamentally a political project, driven by generations of Christian democrats, social democrats and liberals but it has never had universal support. We see the strength of Euroscepticism in many European countries and we have seen its end consequences with Brexit in the United Kingdom. In Ireland, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were the only parties to support joining Europe 50 years ago. Labour came on board later and has been enthusiastically pro-European for many decades. The Green Party initially opposed European integration but has supported further integration for more than a decade.

This is not the case when it comes to Sinn Féin and radical left parties like People Before Profit. They opposed joining, opposed the Single Market, opposed the four freedoms, opposed EU citizenship and opposed the Euro. Sinn Féin has campaigned for a "No" vote in every European treaty put to the people in this State by referendum. Their leader was also leader of many of these "No" campaigns. While it has moved a lot since then, Sinn Féin remains a Eurosceptic and Euro-critical party. Its manifesto commits to withdrawing from permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, the European Union’s structured co-operation on defence and security. If this were to happen it would be the first time for Ireland to move away from Europe and integration since we joined 50 years ago. We would no longer be at the heart of Europe and aside from weakening our security, it would also send the wrong message about where Ireland sees itself in the world and about its place in Europe. Sinn Féin also virulently opposes the ratification of major EU free trade agreements and it boasts that it has done so for 20 years.

In the past 15 years the country has weathered many major threats, many of which were external in origin. These include the global financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic and the energy and inflation shock caused by the war in Ukraine. If anything, we tend to emerge stronger. The next big threat is not an external one but an internal one, taking the form of a radical change to our long-standing and successful policies on Europe, trade and the economy. This is not the change we need and it would be change for the worse. Like Brexit, it would make us poorer, less secure and less influential in the world. Particularly on a day like this, Europe Day, we should not be blind to this threat and we have a responsibility to call it out.

Throughout the last five decades, Ireland has sought to be a constructive, credible and positive partner. Our contribution across the full range of union policies has been to the benefit of Ireland and the EU as a whole. The greatest challenges we face today, whether the war in Ukraine or the urgent need to take action on climate, are increasingly global. They cannot possibly be met by individual countries acting alone. Even large countries cannot deal with issues so big. They can only be successfully confronted by working with our European Union friends and partners and in a global context.

Speaking to this House on our first Europe Day in 1973, former Taoiseach and then Minister for Foreign Affairs, the late Garret FitzGerald, looked ahead to Ireland making a constructive and positive contribution to the evolution of the European community. He said that the shape of Europe’s future evolution would be decisive to Ireland’s national development, as an economy and as a society. Speaking at a time when most of Europe’s population still lived under the yoke of communism, he described the challenge in the following terms:

This means that we must enlarge our horizons and be prepared to take a lead where in the past we have been content too modestly to follow. To this end we should try to mobilise the intellectual energies of our people, to stimulate thought on how this Community can increasingly become one in which the peoples of Europe will be proud to participate and to which they will feel a genuine loyalty deriving from their recognition of the contribution the Community can make to their own individual lives.

The late Dr. FitzGerald was a great European and one of many great Irish Europeans who helped bring this vision to reality over the last half-century. The European ideal has always been inspired by a spirit of optimism and a belief in a better future. Recent crises have tested that ideal but they have not broken it - indeed they have probably strengthened it. If the case for Irish membership was compelling 50 years ago, it is even more compelling now. Tá Aontas Eorpach an lae inniu níos mó agus níos éagsúla ná an ceann a ndeachaigh muid isteach ann in 1973. Is é ár mbaile gur chuidigh muid a thógáil, agus tá a bhunús láidir. Táimid ag súil go mór leis an gcéad 50 bliain eile de bhallraíocht le muinín agus le huaillmhian. Today the European Union is bigger and more diverse than the one we joined back in 1973. It is our home that we have helped to build, and its foundations are strong. We look forward to the next 50 years of membership with confidence and ambition.

As the matter raised is a service delivery matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

As the European values of solidarity, partnership and co-operation again come to the fore in a volatile world, there exists an opportunity to build a truly social Europe, one in which workers, families and communities are at the very heart of our shared future. We have a chance to reimagine and reshape the European endeavour as a beacon to the world of human rights, equality and economic justice. That is how we would enhance the democratic legitimacy of the European Union and build a future in which every citizen has a stake.

It is that togetherness that sees Europe standing strong with the people of Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and the freedom of their beloved homeland against Russia's criminal invasion. There can be no victory for Putin's military aggression against Ukrainian sovereignty, so he must immediately withdraw his army and end this war. The journey to a lasting peace must begin now and must be underpinned by the values of democracy, integrity and the rule of international law. With our unwavering support, Ukraine will win the day of liberation and, I believe, a future of peace and prosperity as a member of the European Union, if that is the will of its people.

In the stand against military belligerence and for the rule of international law, there can be no double standards. Europe must be to the fore in confronting Israel's apartheid against the Palestinian people. Europe can no longer stand idly by as Palestinian lands are forcibly annexed and illegally settled, as Palestinian homes are demolished and the schools of Palestinian children bulldozed to dust. Together, we must work for an end to this brutal occupation and for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

In an increasingly complex world, Ireland remains a strong and leading European voice for peace. We have achieved that powerful position not by way of military might but through our respected, long-held tradition of neutrality and our unequivocal moral principle and stand. That is at the core of Ireland's influence across the world. Those who do not recognise this make a grave error. Sustained efforts by successive governments to undermine and erode our military neutrality are wrong. Europe is made stronger through the involvement of militarily neutral and non-aligned nations. Our connection is deepened by differing perspectives. Rather than retreating into the quicksand of default militarisation, the Government must lead the call for recognition of militarily neutral and non-aligned countries within the European treaties, within the basic law of our Union. Of course, that must also happen in line with the Irish Constitution. Europe is at its very best when it is on the side of peace and conflict resolution.

We in Ireland know that better than most as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement is an international blueprint for peacemaking and can rightly be cited as a stand-out success of Ireland's membership of the EU. Today, however, we are challenged with impasse. A year on from the assembly election, we need a functioning government, we need the North-South bodies up and running and we need the east-west relationship back on a sustainable footing. The negotiations between the European Commission and the British Government are over. It is time to move forward. The DUP is at a moment of decision. I really hope it chooses partnership and progress, because together we can again make power-sharing work for everyone.

Brexit threatened disaster for Ireland as the people of the North were dragged out of the EU against their democratically expressed wishes. Brexit highlighted the failure of partition in a very sharp way. It demonstrated how the century-long division of Ireland has held back the realisation of our full potential. Our future must see the whole of Ireland back within the European Union. We have built the peace and now it is time for this generation to write the next chapter, namely, the reunification of our country. Seismic, generational change is already under way in Ireland. We must plan for peaceful, orderly and democratic constitutional change. We must prepare for referendums on Irish unity. I once again call on the Government to establish a citizens' assembly to discuss and plan for reunification. That would be a forum for the most important conversation of our time, and I include in that our unionist citizens - those who are British in a partitioned Ireland and who will remain British in a united Ireland. Ireland, united as a nation and a people, will not only be transformational for our country but will also present a catalyst for a positive, progressive reimagining of Europe's future. Agus muid ag comóradh 50 bliain ó ghlacamar ballraíocht san Aontas Eorpach, is féidir le hÉirinn athrú dearfach agus forásach a thabhairt chun tosaigh. Caithfidh ár dtodhchaí Éire ar fad a fheiceáil ar ais laistigh den Aontas Eorpach agus Éire aontaithe chun tosaigh den Eoraip shóisialta ina bhfuil tús áite ag oibrithe, teaghlaigh agus pobal.

A new generation now bravely and boldly reaches for a new Ireland in a changed Europe, a new, modern, engaged Ireland shaped by the positive current of change sweeping across our country, shaped by opportunity and the ambitions of workers and families and shaped by the power and aspiration of our young people in particular. This is a moment to redefine our journey as a nation. Our united future is not only to be part of the European Union but to be at the forefront of the European project, driving change and improvements that benefit progress and prosperity and the uplift of every single ordinary yet extraordinary European citizen.

I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I understand that the issue is now substantially resolved.

However, as the maintenance of the register of Nurses and Midwives is an operational matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have also referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

As we encourage all parties to the Good Friday Agreement to recapture the spirit and determination of 1998, I appeal to the European Union to also seek to capture some of that spirit and lean into peacebuilding as opposed to militarisation. There are some within the EU who see seismic events as an opportunity to advance long-held ambitions to increase militarisation and undermine national sovereignty. It is particularly unfortunate that they have found truck with some in Irish political life who see this as an opportunity to water down our long-standing military neutrality that has served us well.

I contend that recent events underscore the need for Ireland and the EU to stand as champions of peace and democracy, not only in Europe but across the globe. We rightly stand with Ukraine in both our words and actions, and those words and actions must be replicated in respect of other parts of the world, particularly in support of the Palestinian people and against Israeli apartheid.

As in other areas, Ireland can help lead Europe to the right position. Our tradition as a neutral and independent State and our experience of colonialism and occupation and of peacemaking must be harnessed for the greater good of our own country, Europe and the world. Europe Day provides an opportunity. Just as we have always made it clear that our place is in the EU, so also have the Irish people been categoric that the EU must be a vehicle that respects national sovereignty, upholds the principles of democracy and rule of law and puts the interests of citizens, workers, families and communities ahead of the interests of corporations. Europe Day provide us with an opportunity to reflect and to rededicate ourselves to those ambitions for both Ireland and Europe.

The next slot is for the Labour Party. Deputy Howlin has six and a half minutes.

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Europe Day 2023 is worth celebrating in Ireland. This year, we are also commemorating the 50th anniversary of our membership of the European Union. In 1972, some 83% of the electorate voted to join the EEC. We have not looked back since. As many have said, our membership was transformative. It literally transformed the economic, social and cultural life of this country. In short, it brought peace, prosperity and progress to our island. A programme of events to mark our 50 years of membership was prepared by the Government. Appropriately, it concludes today: Europe Day.

The EU was, and continues to be, first and foremost a peace project. That is why the Russian invasion of Ukraine is so devastating. It threatens our values and everything we stand for. That is the reason we must face this challenge head-on. In that regard, I welcome the latest round of sanctions brought forward by the Commission. Existing sanctions must be enforced by member states and we cannot allow them to be circumvented.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine follows various challenges in recent years with which the EU has dealt with some degree of success. Brexit in 2016 could have led to a break-up of the Union but instead the opposite happened and increased solidarity prevailed. The withdrawal agreement and the trade and co-operation agreement were finalised despite serious political instability in the UK. A Brexit adjustment reserve was established and the creation of a hard border on the island of Ireland was avoided. EU procedures may, at times, seem cumbersome. They are by no means perfect. It can be difficult to get the agreement of all 27 states, but the Union does get there in the end. The Covid-19 pandemic is, thankfully, no longer an emergency. Vaccines were acquired and an unprecedented EU recovery and resilience fund was put in place, among many other measures. That said, we need to acknowledge that the EU does not always get things right. I think, in particular, of the financial crash in 2008, when the Troika forced us to bail out the bondholders and imposed unnecessary austerity on Ireland and Greece. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned. The EU now has the necessary tools to manage such a crisis if, God forbid, it were to happen again.

The EU continues to work through current issues and anticipate future challenges. Enlargement, for example, is an ongoing issue, as Deputy Howlin mentioned. The countries in the western Balkans, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia all have legitimate aspirations to join the EU, and so too have Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. Ireland, as we know, rightly supports enlargement as a general principle. The EU must do everything possible to assist these countries in their endeavours. The politics and geopolitics of their cases need to be taken into account but at the same time, there can be no backsliding with respect to liberal democratic values and the rule of law. Those values include fundamental human rights, free and fair elections, a free press, ethics in politics and judicial independence, to name just a few.

The EU is to the fore in tackling climate change, with the so-called green deal aiming to achieve a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions not later than 2050, or as the Taoiseach has said, to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The deal is complemented by a new objective to eliminate our dependence on Russian oil and gas, and fossil fuels generally, with an increased focus now being put on the importance of renewables. In this country, focus is being put on the importance of wind energy, in particular.

There is also the geopolitical situation to consider. The world is becoming more dangerous by the day. There is conflict between autocracies and democracies. The EU talks of strategic autonomy and the need to de-risk in respect of China. The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy is constantly evolving and Ireland must respond to that.

The issue of migration continues to exercise the EU. A new pact on migration and asylum has yet to be agreed, and that is proving a challenge for the 27 EU member states. Conflict and persecution, poverty, food insecurity and climate change drive people to move to other countries for safety and a better life. The EU must be to the fore in providing increased support for these regions. I think in particular of Africa. Potential migrants must be offered a future where they live so they are not forced to undertake desperate journeys across the Mediterranean Sea in an effort to reach Europe. The elimination of global inequality is in everyone's interest and it is also a moral imperative.

I was struck by what the Ceann Comhairle said this morning when he officially opened an exhibition here in Leinster House commemorating Ireland's 50 years of membership of the EU. He pointed out that Ireland has contributed much to the development of the modern European Union. There was a time when, for some, the EU was all about how much money we could get in structural and cohesion funding, and, of course, Common Agricultural Policy payments have also been very important for this country. However, we know the European Union is about much more than that. Ireland is at the heart of Europe and we have much to contribute as regards finding solutions to the many challenges confronting us. We bring our unique experience and history to the table in respect of conflict resolution and so many other areas. That is something which strengthens the European Union and benefits all of us.

Europe Day allows us to reflect on all of these matters. As a previous speaker said, perhaps Europe Day is going unnoticed by many in Europe but it does allow all of us parliamentarians to reflect on the European Union, what it stands for and where it is going. We have a lot to celebrate today, while at the same time we need to recognise there is always room for improvement, that the EU is not perfect and that we must constantly strive to ensure it continues to work for the citizens of Europe and is responsive to their everyday needs and aspirations.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

They have stayed absolutely steady as regards the Irish protocol. We are now in the period of the Windsor Framework. We hope that the DUP will work alongside many of the rest of us to form an Executive and provide people with the self-government that is required.

I do not think anyone will be shocked when I say the EU will also have a part to play in delivering on Irish unity. I think many have said before that the conversation is well and truly happening. There is still a failing at state level. I do not know whether resolving that would be a matter of expanding the shared island unit or talking about a citizens’ assembly. I have no difficulty with a citizens’ assembly being somewhat more substantial than some of the previous assemblies. I accept that it would have to deal with a significant number of issues, but we have to have those necessary conversations around what a new Ireland will look like and how we can provide room and space for all who live on this island. We can definitely do better than what has been done before.

The State has some necessary preparations to make. It is only the State and the Government that can do the heavy lifting in the context of those preparations and in moving us to a position where we can have a referendum. People can argue all they want from the point of view of having all the information in front of them. There will then be an onus on the likes of myself and others who want Irish unity to actually win that. I have no doubt the European Union will play a major role at that point.

There has been talk in respect of accession. It is fair to say that it is now a real conversation, whether we are talking about the western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova or Georgia. There is an acceptance that there are still major rule-of-law issues across the European Union. We have to show other countries the roadmap they need to make it into Europe. However, we must be absolutely clear about what we want to see, and that is a liberal Europe. We want to see a Europe that looks after all its people. We do not want to see what we have seen in places like Hungary. We must ensure that those countries that want accession and those that are within the European Union can follow the sort of rules we want to see. We all accept that there are huge opportunities if we work together.

There has been much talk about climate change and the fact that Ireland could become a wind energy superpower. We must ensure that happens. There is certain work that needs to be done in this State, but we could change the energy map right across Europe. There is room for manoeuvre and co-operation across the board.

We have often spoken here about the scourge of drug crime on communities. Major issues of that sort can, to a great extent, be dealt with at European level. Europe has to be about justice. It has to be about justice for Ukraine and its people in the face of brutal Russian aggression. We also need to see fairness across the world, particularly in the context of what is happening to the Palestinian people. That is what the people of Ireland and the good people of Europe want to see, but the heavy lifting must be done by ourselves initially. Beyond that, we need to see that our people are really protected. Whether we are talking about energy security or matters relating to the cost of living, protection is required.

The point has been well made that people in the street will probably not know that today marks Europe Day. That is fine. As a proud European, and as a Member of a Parliament that has benefited greatly, it is right and appropriate that we stop to take stock of the day and how we have benefited from being part of the Union, but also to discuss the style of leadership, the challenges the Union faces and how our Republic can contribute to enhancing a Union that was built on peace and prosperity.

Since it joined the then EEC in 1973, Ireland developed at a pace that was once not thought possible. I am reminded of the sentiments expressed by the writer and poet, John McGahern, who said that Ireland was a 19th century society right up to about the 1980s, and then we bypassed the 20th century. Much of the acceleration came when we joined the EEC. It was a moment of pride, togetherness and determination for a brighter and shared future.

The EU has many faults. I intend to spend much of my time addressing those. Going forward, I hope we can use our position as a member state to right some of those wrongs. We must examine where we see ourselves as part of the Union in terms of a position of leadership and as a contributor rather than just being subservient to the will of the more powerful or those who view themselves as being more powerful.

We have greatly benefited both socially and economically from our membership. Upon its commencement, we began to free ourselves from the covert control of the Catholic Church. Prior to joining the European Union, we had a referendum to remove the special place of the Catholic Church from our Constitution. That fight has continued in subsequent decades, through the marriage equality referendum and the fight for bodily autonomy, which continues to this day. Our newfound self-determination has allowed us to reassess our values, which led to us strengthening our human rights record, driving forward on civil and social rights, introducing gender equality legislation, improving the protection of workers' rights and becoming a much more tolerant, kind and inclusive country.

Our membership of the EU gave us the confidence required to chart this course on our own. However, it should be stated that if we celebrate Europe Day as we do, and if we believe that our membership of this Union is one of which we take stock of every year, we must appreciate that people want to join us. That is something we must acknowledge and commit ourselves to continuously.

A recent report from the Council of Europe has found EU countries are increasingly resorting to illegally rejecting refugees and asylum seekers with next to no accountability. The anti-torture committee of the Council of Europe found clear patterns of physical ill treatment against migrants attempting to cross borders all over Europe. The report found that refugees were punched, slapped and beaten with weapons by police and border guards, who often removed their ID tags or badges. People rightly associate this Union with peace, yet we inflict violence on those who attempt to become part of it. Furthermore, migrants have been illegally pushed back, so many face expulsion from European states either by land or by sea without having their asylum claims heard. That is contrary to EU law. The Council states that these victims have been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. Some have had bullets fired close to their bodies while they lay on the ground, while others have been pushed into rivers and sometimes had their hands tied or they have been forced to walk barefoot and even naked back across the border. That level of ridicule and inhumanity cannot be part of the peace of the European Union. It cannot be that this fortress Europe inflicts such a degree of degradation and violence on those who wish to be part of it. This is happening in Europe, a Union that is built on peace, but what we are seeing is violence being inflicted.

We are a member of the Council of Europe, along with another 45 member countries. We signed the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. Even closer still, on our streets we have seen those who came here in search of asylum experiencing degrading treatment from the State. That has been reflected in very recent court judgments. The International Protection Office, IPO, on Mount Street is surrounded by tents occupied by people who came here in search of sanctuary. They were not even given a tent, but they have been able to acquire one. They were given a food voucher. That cannot be part of our Republic. At the end of March, there were two tents sheltering homeless asylum seekers near the IPO where newly arrived asylum seekers begin their claims for international protection. Last Friday, there were upwards of 30 tents pitched on the streets surrounding it. This issue has been raised today. It will continue to be raised over the coming weeks. We cannot keep acting surprised when people seek to come to our Republic and the European Union in search of protection, whether they are fleeing war, famine or persecution.

I do not in any way underestimate the difficulty in terms of the protection we give to those who came to our borders from Ukraine following the horrendous invasion by the Russian Federation. However, we cannot continue to not meet our obligations to those who come here seeking sanctuary from other parts of the world, regardless of where they may be from. We cannot keep acting surprised.

As I do not have much time left, I wish to raise another issue of concern, namely, the poverty that is being experienced in Europe. Poverty is something that we in Ireland are not immune to. A report by Social Justice Ireland published yesterday found that nearly 700,000 people on our shores are experiencing horrendous poverty.

Poverty is experienced by one in five throughout the EU. It is experienced on a multitude of fronts and can include food poverty and energy poverty. I fully believe – this is a point I make each year when we have statements on Europe – that poverty is the greatest threat to the EU. If citizens within its borders are not experiencing its warmth, they will take it down. An example of this that I keep going back to is that of the former industrial heartland of the UK, many of whose constituencies voted against their interest and in favour of Brexit in 2015. We still live with the repercussions of those decisions today. If people cannot feed themselves or heat their homes, we cannot expect them to join us in celebrating a union from which we have benefited. The EU has to be about peace and prosperity for everybody; if not, it will be the biggest threat to its continuation.

I thank the Minister of State. Ireland’s 50th anniversary in the EU is a major milestone in its history. It is an honour for me to mark a successful 50 years of membership of the EU by celebrating Europe Day 2033. I was delighted to participate in the celebrations in Carlow this morning. We had a really big event. I thank Carlow County Development Partnership, including Ms Annette Fox, for working with all the various agencies and communities that were present. There was food, song and dance. It was an absolute privilege to be present for a few hours this morning. Broadcasters from the local radio station, KCLR, were present. The community spirit was absolutely brilliant. Carlow is one of 17 local authorities that organised events in towns across Ireland to mark EU50 through special funding made available by the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was so important that we played our part this morning in County Carlow to ensure we recognised the work done over the past 50 years.

It has been great to grow up at the heart of Europe. So many of us cannot remember an Ireland that was not in the European Union. I spoke to many younger people today and said this. The younger children from all the schools present today were learning and it was lovely to see it. Many Ministers visited schools in the past few days. It is important that we celebrate and let everybody know what has happened in the past 50 years, and it was really important to do so this morning.

We have seen the result of support from our neighbours during the Brexit negotiations, in our ability to retain the common travel area and, of course, in the protocol. We may be out on our own at the west of Europe but we never feel alone because of our close relationship with the EU. We are simply better together. As John Hume famously said, the European Union is the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution. Having already marked 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, it is important that we remember that. It is history in the making. It is so important that we remember Mr. Hume’s words on days like this.

We are lucky to be able to welcome the women and children fleeing war in Ukraine and help them to live in a safe environment and enjoy this lovely country of ours. The people from my county, County Carlow, and County Kilkenny, have worked so hard and the responses have been brilliant. Everybody worked together, which is so important. The most important things are to encourage peace and end war. It was said this morning that we need peace and to ensure we end the war. That was lovely. This morning when I was talking to people who are now my friends, it was lovely to talk to them about being in Europe and how we welcome them. We have now made friendships with Ukrainians. Having listened to their stories, we need to do what we can.

Europe Day 2033 marks the culmination of the Government’s EU50 programme, which has been celebrating key milestones. In light of the 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership, since its decision to join the European Economic Community on 22 January 1972, it is great to see so much of the celebration this year being about our young people and how they see Europe. As a spokesperson for children, I, for one, believe the message we were circulating this morning through talking and explaining was lovely. Again, I can only just say how important that is.

Over the past 50 years, Ireland has made remarkable progress but has also contributed so much to the development of our modern EU. We should be proud to celebrate all that has been achieved. I look forward to the next 50 years. Today is a really good day and it is important that we acknowledge it. As I said this morning, the event in Carlow was lovely and I was delighted and proud of it.

I am very pleased to speak on Europe Day, 50 years of membership of the EU and the power of our democratic union of peoples as a force for peace, equality and prosperity. I thank the EU institutions for the great care and concern they showed for people and businesses in the Six Counties in and around the Brexit negotiations.

Europe built a peaceful union from the wreckage of two world wars. From mass death it brought new life, and through economic co-operation it ensured subsequent generations of young Europeans would not fight and die on each other’s soil.

I pay tribute to the ordinary Europeans, especially the women who saw two world wars fought mainly by their husbands, fathers and sons. The husbands who were lucky enough to come home in 1918 were then unlucky enough to see their own sons march off to war or even head off beside them just 21 years later. The people of Europe were a powerful and quiet force in the pursuit of economic co-operation that would bring opportunity, security, prosperity and, above all, peace. The women played their part in that in the fields and in the factories. They wanted a peace they hoped would last. It did last for decades, until the conflict in the Balkans and the associated genocide we watched with such horror on our television screens. Now on the borders of our Union, we have Russia’s war and invasion of Ukraine. I doubt very much that President Putin is unable to sleep at night because of the hundreds of thousands of his own people he is sending into battle. He is certainly not tossing and turning because of the terror and death he has inflicted on the people of Ukraine. On Europe Day here on our small island, where we have made peace and, more important, keep that peace, we can take time and care to consider suffering, fear and death that are not political but simply human. It is in that context – the context of our shared humanity in this world, which is getting smaller by the day – that I would like to see Ireland as a State commit to peace, to brokering peace and to keeping peace wherever it is needed in the world.

The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. The TAS is a consultant-led scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Last month marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which stands as a successful blueprint for peacemaking, a framework for resolving even the most difficult of conflicts. However, 25 years on, we are again faced with an impasse. We are challenged to recapture the spirit and determination of 1998 and to make progress happen. Sinn Féin is committed to seeing the assembly restored. We believe that a united Ireland would be good not only for Ireland but for Europe, standing as indisputable testimony that we can overcome any conflict. To do this, we need a citizens' assembly to allow for the airing of all views and all ideas on what a united Ireland will look like. We must talk about and plan for a united Ireland.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Today as we commemorate Europe Day, we celebrate the unity and peace that have been the cornerstone of the EU and reflect upon the remarkable journey of Ireland within this esteemed community since we joined in 1973. Our membership of the EU has served as a catalyst for Ireland's transformation from a largely agricultural economy to a modern, open economy that has been a magnet for foreign direct investment. The EU has been instrumental in facilitating the growth of our vibrant technology, pharmaceutical and services sectors with many multinational corporations choosing Ireland as their European home owing to our favourable business environment, English-speaking workforce and access to the Single Market.

Moreover, the Single Market has been of huge benefit to our businesses allowing free movement of goods, services, capital and people across borders. It has provided our companies both large and small with a market of over 450 million consumers, allowing them to expand, innovate and create on an international scale. The Common Agricultural Policy has been a pillar of support for our farming community providing vital subsidies that have helped to modernise our agricultural practices, improve the quality of our produce and ensure the sustainability of our rural communities.

Our membership of the EU has also brought significant benefits to younger people and students. Initiatives like the Erasmus programme have provided our youth with opportunities to study, train and gain experience abroad while broadening their horizons and fostering that sense of European identity.

In the realms of security, Ireland has benefited greatly from co-operation with other EU member states. The sharing of intelligence and joint operations have enhanced our ability to combat terrorism, cybercrime and other threats to our national security.

The adoption of the euro facilitated trade, reduced transaction costs and enhanced price transparency, further integrating our economy with that of the rest of Europe.

In the context of the tourism sector, the EU has brought an influx of visitors from across the continent which contributes to the growth of local businesses, the creation of jobs and the promotion of Irish culture and heritage. In addition, the EU’s investment in our transport infrastructure has improved connectivity with other member states, making Ireland more accessible for both business and leisure travel.

As we mark Europe Day, let us not only celebrate these achievements but also look forward to the continued opportunities that our membership of the EU offers. It provides a platform for us to implement policies that affect our nation, participate in the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous Europe and ensure that the benefits of EU membership are enjoyed by all our citizens. Let us also remember that as a member state of the EU we are part of a collective endeavour to promote peace, prosperity and democratic values. As we look forward, let us seize the opportunities that the EU continues to offer and to build a brighter future for Ireland and for Europe.

Today marks the anniversary of the signing of the Schuman Declaration. It was signed when much of Europe was still rubble after the devastation of the Second World War. The aim behind it was simple: to prevent the horrors of war from ever unfolding in Europe again. The declaration fittingly states its aim to make war between the historic rivals "not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible". The declaration set in place a vision for a new Europe with co-operation and peace at its core. I heard the Ceann Comhairle’s speech in LH 2000 earlier. He noted how the EU has been transformative for Ireland. Sadly, however, war once again rages in Europe, with levels of destruction not seen since the Second World War being unleashed across Ukraine. Over the decades, the EU has been to the fore in advancing social progress across member states and workers’ rights and environmental regulations have benefited Ireland. In recent years, however, it has clearly been failing in its aims and objectives. The growing EU policies of privatisation, deregulation and increased militarisation represent all that has gone wrong with the European project. These policies merely aim to benefit a minority within Europe. Privatisation and militarisation will not help workers struggling to pay energy bills and put food on the table. These policies will only drive up the cost of living. We need a European Union that strives for better for all, not just those in Europe. We need a European Union that strives for peace and justice globally. Undoubtedly, there has been a drift among EU members towards militarisation. Our own Government is looking to abandon military neutrality at a time when we need less war. The EU must stand against international terror, be it inflicted by Russia or by apartheid Israel.

I am delighted to take the opportunity to make some comments on Europe Day on behalf of the Regional Group, particularly on the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the EU. I am conscious that I am one of Ireland’s lucky generation. The country joined in 1973, and I was born in 1977. I am part of the first generation to benefit enormously from being in the European Union. I am very conscious of that. I have witnessed first hand the transition of the country from national poverty to at least some modicum of national prosperity and hope. I remember the 1980s, as do most Deputies. I remember the mass emigration, the unemployment and the armed conflict. Those things have disappeared, not by chance but for a reason. One of the main contributing factors has been our membership of the European Union. Despite all its shortcomings and imperfections, as my colleagues have mentioned, the European project has been an overwhelmingly positive journey, both for this country and for the continent as a whole.

I will give three examples. First, western Europe is at peace for the first time in centuries. There are 27 countries in the EU. One EU country has never gone to war with another. That seems like a very normal thing for us to say but 70 years ago it would have been unthinkable. Countries are clamouring to get into the EU at the moment, and with good reason. It is because they have seen how positive it has been for Ireland and they want to have a piece of that. We can look at the situation in Northern Ireland and how it has destabilised in recent years. It emphasises how important the EU has been to this country and how positive its contribution has been. We can look at what is happening in Ukraine and Russia now to catch a glimpse of an alternate reality that could have been ours had the EU not existed.

Second, I am very supportive of the EU from an educational perspective. The Erasmus programme has already been mentioned. It has had a transformative effect on this country and on others across the EU. Tens of thousands of Irish students have benefited from the programme. It not only promotes education but also tolerance, understanding, cultural awareness and respect for diversity. I said last year that I am heartened that the Erasmus programme is continuing in Northern Ireland and that this jurisdiction is providing funding for that and long may that continue. Third, I am supportive of the EU because of what happened in the context of Brexit. Without the EU’s influence and backing, the outcome of the Brexit negotiations would have been utterly different. When you contrast the negotiating styles and the ethics of both negotiating teams, I am very glad that Ireland aligned itself with the European Union. We had one negotiating team that was very cavalier and reckless and another that was very constructive and consistent. We have picked the winning horse in that regard, and long may we continue to do so.

It has been said that it has not all been plain sailing or good news. There have been ups and downs, particularly during the financial crisis. The financial crisis of 2007-08 in Ireland was largely home grown, but it was exacerbated by the troika. I refer here not primarily to the IMF but to the two European institutions, the ECB and the European Commission. I am happy to report that lessons have been learned from that. During the pandemic, there was a completely different approach. They did not choose austerity but, rather, financial liquidity. Countries were supported rather than being placed under more pressure.

If I were to make some suggestions, the European Union has shown significant support for climate change through the green deal it has brought in, but much more needs to be done from the point of view of a just transition so that Ireland can become a carbon-neutral society. There is simply not enough money available to retrofit every house, change every vehicle to an electric vehicle and provide all these renewable energy resources that are so vital. More financial supports are needed from Brussels to support this transition.

It is important that we remember that if there are deficiencies in the European Union, which there are, they are not just their deficiencies but ours as well. If there is a fault with the European Union, it is just as much a fault of ours, because the European Union is not some obscure entity over in Brussels. We are the European Union and it is up to us to shape it and remake it as we see fit. Everybody here recognises that it is unfinished business. It is a work in progress. Ireland has to engage more and shape this Union as we want it to be. As a small, open economy, our future belongs in Europe and it is very much in our interest to develop and progress it as we see fit.

I am happy to speak on Europe Day. I wish I were jumping for joy and celebrating, but unfortunately I am not. As a campaigner when I was a buachaill óg or fear óg back in 1973, I campaigned looking for a "Yes" vote and I supported it. We joined and we had many benefits. Indeed, part of the slogan for the 1972 referendum on membership was regarding a so-called key guarantee that there would be benefits for farmers. We have had many for farmers and I would not or could not deny that. It has been the case in many other areas as well.

However, fishing, for instance, has been completely decimated. Our sugar beet industry has disappeared. We are under enormous threat with the whole green agenda and we are being pushed by Europe. The attack on farmers, which I raised here today, is appalling also.

When it came to the so-called bailout, when we ran into financial difficulties, I lost an awful lot of respect for our European so-called friends. With friends like those, who needs enemies? They actually forced the Government, and I was a backbencher then, sitting towards the back of where the Minister of State is sitting. The Minister of State is down the front, but I was never down there. I voted for the bank guarantee, which was the biggest political mistake I ever made in my whole life, because we were under pressure. I remember discussing it that day with the then Minister for Finance, the late Deputy Brian Lenihan. Now, the Minister for Finance is Deputy Michael McGrath. We did our best, but I call the so-called bailout a cleanout. That is what it was. The ECB, having allowed German, French and many other banks and bondholders to invest huge money in this country, abandoned us. They forced us to bail them out, even though they had their own insurance policies which were never touched. They were literally laughing all the way to the bank and we were picking up the pieces.

That was a costly experience, with the fact we now have diminished rights over there. We go over there and we seem to be lapdogs and do all the things that are needed and that are good. We say, "Yes, sir", "Aye, sir", "Three bags full, sir." That is what I see coming back from Europe. We come back with very bad deals. Deputy Collins will speak more strongly about the fishing industry, which has been wiped out and decommissioned. We are paying people to dismantle it, as we did with the sugar factories. We had four sugar factories and now we have none. We are importing sugar from all kinds of countries at the moment, as we are importing peat, wood chip and everything else. It is a sheer act of madness and it is totally unacceptable.

We are marking Europe Day. Europe has been generally successful for so many countries. Certainly, Ireland has seen a lot of benefits down through the years by being involved in the European Union. Yet, we have also seen situations, like Deputy McGrath has just mentioned, such as with the fishing industry, where we have been decimated by our involvement in Europe. That should never have been the case. Sadly, successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments have not been able to fight at the table in Europe for proper fishing quotas for our Irish fishermen. That is the sad situation we find ourselves in. I say to the Minister of State that, even in these dark times in fishing, the best deal that has come for the fishing industry is the decommissioning deal. That is a sad situation. The Government is praising that deal and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, is praising that deal and saying it is the best deal he can get. It is a shocking situation where we get rid of Irish fishermen from Irish waters and we fill Irish waters with their European counterparts. The Government has failed the Irish fishermen miserably in any negotiations that go on. Our European counterparts, whether they are Spanish or otherwise, have cleaned Irish waters continually and the Government has aided and abetted that by not standing up for the Irish fisherman.

We cannot even get a quota for the bluefin tuna. All the European countries get their fair share of a quota from Europe and we cannot. We are finding it difficult and now it looks as though the Government has decided to use the powers that be to try to attack farming at this present time, with nitrates being cut from 250 kg to 220 kg. This is going to decimate agriculture. So many Members in this House voted in favour of that type of deal and are working towards that type of deal. It is an absolute disaster.

I have heard a lot about achieving a united Ireland through Europe and, obviously, we should all head towards that goal. However, so many times people in this House have been looking for a citizens' assembly. What in the name of God were we elected for? Why do we want a citizens' assembly to tell us how to run our country? Each and every one of us in this House has been democratically elected by the people. If we in this House cannot make the decisions that need to be rolled out, we certainly should not be looking at a citizens' assembly to do so. I certainly do not agree with that. We should make the decisions in here and not anybody else.

As I said, there is no point in my saying we have not benefited from Europe. We have certainly benefited from Europe. Europe has benefited from Ireland's inclusion in Europe also. We have sometimes been fighting above the measure, as such. I will keep going back to one issue I have spoken about so often in this House, which very few Members speak about, which is the fishing industry in this country. If we are to turn things around and if we want to get all of Ireland to respect the benefit of Ireland being in Europe, we have to get a proper quota similar to what others have negotiated. The sad thing is there is so much decommissioning going on that we could end up with less quota than those in the disastrous deals we have been patted on the back with. Whether it was Brexit, etc., and I could back through the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s, every deal that was done on fishing was a raw deal. It delivered a raw deal for the Irish fisherman and fisherwomen. I ask the Minister of State not to turn it on the farmers now and wipe them out with nitrates directives that the Government cannot resolve because the Green Party has so much influence in this Irish Government. I sincerely hope the Minister of State will take on board the points I have made.

Europe Day was created to celebrate Europe's achievements and unity. We have been told that it is a day of "reflection on the co-operation, prosperity and peace that has come about through the European project". However, I believe it would be disingenuous for us to reflect on and talk about the European Union while at the same time overlooking its many significant flaws. Reflecting on our time as a member of the European Union, I cannot help but feel we got the short end of the stick. Maybe I feel this more acutely than others, given the fact that I come from a town that has been completely decimated because of the European Union. The fishing industry in Killybegs has taken hit after hit since joining the EU, and it has not only affected the industry but the town and county as a whole.

I have said time after time that the root of these problems began with our negotiations to join the EU and with the Common Fisheries Policy. Europe’s greed and Ireland’s mistakes during the course of these negotiations have had a detrimental and irreversible effect on all our fishing towns since. Killybegs has experienced and continues to experience mass emigration of our young people, either abroad or to Dublin. This has negatively impacted on Dublin, too. When you build an entire country around one city, of course the city’s infrastructure will be unable to cope. I truly believe that had we not joined the EU, or indeed if the EU was interested in the development of small countries, we would not have as severe a divide between Dublin and the rest of the country and opportunities would be more equally spread.

It is important to remember that it is not just the west that Europe left behind; Europe left the whole country behind in the crash of 2010.

The Union claims to look after small countries such as Ireland and care about the development of smaller countries, but this could not be further from the truth given how we were treated during that time. The homelessness issue we are faced with every day in this country is a direct legacy of European policies that were foisted on Ireland at that time to save German, French and British banks. Forgive me, therefore, for being hesitant in celebrating Europe Day today. The truth is Ireland gives more to Europe than it gets out of it. The truth is the EU was set up not for small countries but for larger economies to gain more control and more of a stake.

Moreover, it has done little but undermine our long-standing policy of neutrality, which is where the fight will be focused for the next couple of years. It is clear both the EU and the Government are keen to erode our neutrality. I again voice my concern regarding the Government’s decision to review Ireland’s policy on neutrality and defence and my concern regarding the way in which this will be done. Ireland has a long-standing and proud position of neutrality, and the consideration of such an important policy stance should be given to a citizens’ assembly, not a public forum, as proposed by the Tánaiste. I am sceptical of the Government’s reasons for setting up this forum. It should be open and transparent about its reasons for establishing such a forum without having a debate, or even statements, on it in the Dáil. It is clear the intention is to do away with our neutrality policy. The Taoiseach stated earlier that Europe, rather than Ukraine, is at war. That is the reality of the matter and that is the road we are on.

We are here not to commemorate but to reflect, as my colleague rightly said, on our 50-year membership of the European Union. It has been 73 years since the Schuman Declaration, and it might be worth looking at what that declaration said. It stated, "The solidarity in production … [of steel and coal between France and Germany] will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible." Any rational person would have to support that. It goes on, however, to state, "With increased resources Europe [this was 73 years ago] will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent." I would say the "exploitation" rather than the "development". At that stage, most of the countries on that continent were still colonised and the EU wanted to develop it for the Union’s own benefit. I mention this because that narrative of us and them has continued unabated and I find it very worrying.

Migrants have been left to drown in the Mediterranean Sea. Limited time prevents me going through the figures, which I have set out previously for the record. The number of people who have drowned in the Mediterranean is extremely frightening. I do not think, in all humanity, that I could swim across the Mediterranean. It is unthinkable what we have allowed to happen. We have done deals with Türkiye and Libya and exported our responsibility. I have quoted the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ad nauseam in this House because what he has said is absolutely unbelievable, continuing on with the narrative of us and them. He stated:

Europe is a garden ... Most of the rest of the world is a jungle, and the jungle could invade the garden.

Parallel with all that there is a constant increase in the spending on arms. I have all the figures to hand, although I do not have time to read them out in my allocated time. I fully support what has been said during the debate by various colleagues on the left regarding what has become a military-industrial complex. The figures are very frightening. My colleague Deputy Pringle referred to what the Taoiseach said earlier, when he told us Europe is at war. I had not realised Europe was at war. I thought Russia had illegally invaded Ukraine - absolutely wrong and unacceptable - but Europe is not at war. It is a frightening statement. I find the Taoiseach's contribution, running to 12 pages, frightening. On the seventh or eighth page, he started to condemn anybody who might have an alternative view and wants a consensus mentality. I am petrified of a consensus mentality. I am petrified that that is what is prevailing, and we have learned nothing if that is what we now want. Anybody described as being on the left is condemned as raving mad for not being able to see the picture. I wish I had more time to explore the Taoiseach’s contribution because I certainly find the 12 pages of it, and his comment earlier, utterly worrying and frightening. It is time for our voices to be heard, as the neutral country we are, in a positive way to promote peace on the planet, not us and them, not our rules versus their rules, but realising we need transformative change. Not one page of the Taoiseach’s contribution was dedicated to the transformational change we need as a result of climate change and having learned from the world wars.

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the European Union, a momentous occasion that reminds us all of the importance of our shared values, solidarity and co-operation. The programme for Government underlined the Government’s commitment to being at the heart of the European home we helped build and to marking 50 years of Ireland's membership of the European Union. Since January 2022, beginning with the 50th anniversary of Ireland's historic signature of the Treaty of Accession and over the course of the 18-month EU50 programme, we have marked the milestones in our European journey. The EU50 programme has encouraged reflection on the celebration of 50 years of membership throughout society. Our young people, Departments, State agencies, schools, third level institutions, local organisations, civic society, cultural organisations, local authorities, business groups and many more have all got involved.

As we celebrate this anniversary, it is important to reflect on Ireland's contribution to the European project. Ireland has been an active and committed member of the European Union and we have benefited greatly from our membership. Over the period since 1973, Ireland has played a vital role in shaping the EU's policies and institutions, while our economy has been transformed by the opportunities European Union membership has brought. European policies, legislation and funding have enhanced trade for Irish businesses, improved infrastructure and the quality of the environment, and changed how people work, travel and shop. It is appropriate to acknowledge also the solidarity of our EU neighbours in the context of Covid and Brexit.

However, our celebration of the 50-year milestone of our joining comes at a time of great uncertainty and challenge. Recent aggression by Russia against Ukraine has tested our solidarity and commitment to the values that underpin our Union. Ireland, along with our European partners, stands firmly with Ukraine in support of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees and will continue to provide them with the support and assistance they need. As we look to the future, we must continue to work together to address the challenges we face. Climate change, digitisation and globalisation are among the many challenges that will shape our future, but I am confident that, together, we can rise to meet them.

The European Union is a union of values, founded on the principles of freedom, democracy, equality, human rights, human dignity and rule of law. These values are not just words on a page; they are the foundation of our Union and they guide our actions every day. It was fitting that the national postage stamp issued by An Post on 5 January last to mark the 50th anniversary of our membership featured six founding values of the European Union to which we subscribe. As we celebrate Europe Day, let us recommit ourselves to these values of the European Union. Let us celebrate our shared heritage, our diversity and our common purpose. Let us continue to work together to build a more prosperous, secure and sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

In this regard, I thank the large number of Ministers and wider Oireachtas Members who, accompanied by ambassadors to Ireland from European member states, visited schools throughout the country to meet young people and celebrate Europe Day this year. Many of the primary schools visited are taking part in the blue star programme. Some of the post-primary schools are enrolled in the European Parliament's ambassador school programme and this year, through the ambassador role and the Government, we visited almost 470 schools.

I was delighted to visit five schools in north Westmeath, starting with Loreto College in Mullingar ably hosted by Olivia Callaghan, the vice principal. We met the students there. Then we moved on to St. Finian's College where John McHale, the principal, Emma Carey and Aisling Ryan gave us a great welcome. All the students were highly engaged. The most important thing about Europe is to try to bring that foundation to the classroom and to show people the value of our membership.

In Presentation Senior School in Mullingar, Declan Fry and his team again give us a wonderful welcome. The students made a massive effort in putting on a number of performances in their general purpose, GP, area. From there, we went to St. Cremin's National School in Multyfarnham to visit fifth and sixth classes in the primary school and engage with the students. Finally in Wilson's Hospital in Mullingar we met Frank Milling, the principal, and the vice principal, John Galligan. The students there put on an incredible performance of "Ode to Joy" in their old church. We had a lovely fireside meeting with the German ambassador. I want to acknowledge to work of the ambassador's team and I thank the German ambassador for his engagement in all those schools and all the work of the teachers, staff and most importantly the students in our travels.

I thank the people of Ireland for their commitment to the European project and for their role in shaping the future of our Union. Let us continue to work together as partners in the European Union, standing up for our values and for the common good.

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht na cuairteanna sin a thug sé inné.