Martin evokes ethos of Lemass era

THE ETHOS of former taoiseach Seán Lemass was evoked by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in his contribution to the European debate.

“As far back as 80 years ago, Seán Lemass articulated the idea that the potential European nation states could only be fulfilled through systematic, rule-based co-operation,” he said.

“A man second to none in his lifelong dedication to Irish republicanism, it was a great regret of his that Ireland was not in a position to join the earliest stages of what is today’s union.”

Mr Martin said Lemass and others of his generation fully anticipated the era of opportunity that Ireland’s participation in European institutions opened up. “They built a tradition in which I and my party still fully believe, namely, that active and constructive engagement in European integration was essential for Ireland.

“No matter how Euro-positive one is, it is not possible to avoid the fact that the European Union is today faced with a series of fundamental challenges which combine to represent the biggest crisis in its history.”

Mr Martin said the architecture of European integration evolved rapidly in the decade after Jacques Delors rightly set out to reinvigorate the most important multinational organisation ever established.

“In the face of the economic crisis there has been a disturbing inability to adopt measures which are urgent or comprehensive enough to deal with emerging issues,” Mr Martin added.

“A lack of the type of broad leadership shown in the past has resulted in an agenda which is born between half-measures and opportunism,” Mr Martin said.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) said Sinn Féin was proud to be a Euro-critical party.

“While it believes Ireland’s place is at the heart of Europe, it also believes it is the responsibility of the Government and Opposition to play a full part in EU affairs and to this end, Sinn Féin has long advocated greater attention to EU affairs in public and Oireachtas debates,” he added.

Mr Mac Lochlainn emphasised his party’s opposition to the Lisbon Treaty in 2008 and 2009, and to the troika austerity programme, “whether it was Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael-Labour versions”.

"Unfortunately, as evidenced by comments attributed to Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn in The Irish Timeslast week, it appears that some people still find this proposition difficult to understand. In Ireland and Brussels, there is a view among sections of the political elite that any criticism of the politics and policies of the EU is anti-Europe. Such a view is not only narrow minded, but used to deflect criticism of any kind."

“While I welcome the opportunity to debate the future of the EU and Ireland’s role in it, I am not optimistic that it will be a real debate, critically assessing the urgent issues we face,” he said.