Fiscal and economic crisis a crisis of politics and engagement

THIS year marks the 40th anniversary of our membership of the EU. The canvass of Ireland’s experience within the European integration process is a dramatic one, a story of successes and failures and plenty of twists and turns.

A decade ago, it was relatively easy to argue that the first 30 years of Irish participation in this unique trans-national experiment in governance represented an unqualified success. Membership had yielded tens of billions of euro in subvention from the Common Agricultural Policy and EU structural funds and the ever-expanding benefits of being at the heart of the EU’s single market were clearly evident.

By 2003, Ireland was one of the most prosperous countries within the EU club, with GDP per capita 120% of the EU average. Europe had also been a catalyst for all kinds of positive changes in Irish society.