Catching up with Europe
I have called on Foreign Minister Brian Cowen several times in the past clearly to state the Government's and Ireland's position on the convention document on the Future of Europe.
It is time that our Government, and Irish political representatives in Europe, clearly state the direction they envisage for Europe.
We have already lost much ground as several of the working groups have already concluded and Ireland has missed a vital opportunity to influence the future shape of the EU.
Those seeking a political Europe with an EU constitution have set the pace.
Minister Cowen must now fully engage in the debate and ensure that Ireland must not be further reduced to accepting, instead of influencing, what has already been agreed.
It would appear that the Government has failed properly to think through the implications of the convention.
I welcome the change of tone from Mr Cowen and ask him to commit to attending convention sessions so as to make detailed contributions to the process at as early a stage as possible.
The minister now has an opportunity clearly to state Ireland's position with regard to an EU constitution and the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It is time for clarity and leadership if Ireland is to maintain its position as a sovereign constitutional nation at the heart of Europe.
The Irish people deserve to know if the Government intends to call for, and support, a Europe of independent sovereign nations, or if it intends to surrender our constitution and pursue a political Europe agenda.
Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP,
6, Colonial Buildings,
Eglinton St.,
Galway
