Celtic Tiger happened 'because of Europe connection'

A top Irish trade official has said that Ireland's Celtic Tiger happened because of the country's connection with Europe.

David O'Sullivan, the EU's top Trade official, said: "Everything that this country achieved in order to justify the title of 'Celtic Tiger', has flowed directly from our engagement with Europe."

"The economic progress, the increased international profile, the enormous boost of self confidence, the liberation from Britain's shadow, the greater openness and pluralism of our society are due to our place in Europe.

"Only the revisionists of the history of the last thirty five years could seek to convince otherwise."

In a frank address to the McGill summer school in Donegal, Mr O'Sullivan spoke of the importance of Ireland's Lisbon vote next October.

He said: "The choice will be yours - think carefully before you make it. Half-hearted members of any club rarely set the rules or the tone".

"A second No to Lisbon will clearly condemn us to the status of 'non-playing members'. The big picture is that we can either play in the premiership and have real influence, or we can become permanent 'hurlers on the ditch', free to hold any views we wish...but ultimately irrelevant."

Director-General O'Sullivan underlined that the Lisbon Treaty was not about policy changes but more about making the EU more effective and accountable, following the latest enlargements.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "On the one issue legally effected by the Treaty – the number of Commissioners – ratification of Lisbon offers the only legal means possible to secure the continuation of one Commissioner per member state. If Lisbon fails, we will no longer be assured of having an Irish member of the Commission."

He also said that the EU would help Ireland out of the current economic pain and was doing so already by providing Irish-based financial institutions with €130bn in ECB loans, about 15% of the €900bn of ECB loans to the European banking sector - equivalent to 77% of Irish GDP.

Mr O'Sullivan leads the EU's delegation at the World Trade talks and has seen the emerging power of China, India and Brazil at first hand during the long-drawn out WTO negotiations.

Along with Irishwoman Catherine Day, who succeeded Mr O'Sullivan as Secretary-General at the Commission, he is one of the most highly placed officials in the EU.