Irish Examiner view: Give and take in relationship with Europe

EU has transformed Ireland for the good but fishers remind us that membership of a club can bring burdens as well as benefits

A section of the 575km Celtic Interconnector on board one of the vessels laying it on the sea bed between Youghal in Co Cork and Brittany, France. File picture

It is widely received, and almost universally accepted, wisdom that Ireland’s relationship with Europe has been a great boon to the development of the Republic since we joined on January 1, 1973.

Much more will be heard of this 50th anniversary in the month to come but the songs of praise have started early. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen made a comforting address to the Houses of the Oireachtas proclaiming that Ireland was “at the heart of Europe” and that “Irish stubbornness” was needed to support Ukraine and break the reliance on Russian energy.