Can Europe convince a cynical public of its merits?

THE European Parliament is seen as the “people’s voice” since all the MEPs are directly elected by the EU’s citizens.

Its power has grown so much over the past few decades that it is now the most, or the second-most, lobbied body in the world after the US Congress.

But does it have the power to do anything about the real issues that affect ordinary people — the people of Main Street rather than Wall Street? The number one problem of jobs and the economy? A quick survey of some of Ireland’s outgoing MEPs and candidates suggests so, though the attitude of the voters is not so clear.