Europe has been through some
difficult 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.