Madam, - Dan O'Brien's criticism of Irish politicians and their policy in Europe (Opinion, February 17th) was out of line with the facts and hinted of condescension.
As one of the 166 "least cosmopolitan politicians" in Europe he identified, I'd like to point out some facts.
For four days last September in a field in Ballacolla, Co Laois, thousands of "uncosmopolitan" Irish people spent hours discussing Europe and Ireland with me and other Ministers and public representatives, so that they could carefully weigh up their rational decision about Ireland and Europe in the Nice referendum.
I and my colleagues make no apology for having concentrated on travelling the country and talking to the electorate about Europe and the Nice referendum, instead of delivering papers at conferences or writing articles for international newspapers.
The Convention on the Future of Europe was in its very early days then. Our time on the hustings and debating Europe nationally since last July was well spent. I am confident it will serve the people well when it comes to the likely referendum at the end of the Future of Europe process.
Mr O'Brien claimed the Government was adopting a negative attitude at the Convention or, at least, he reported without challenge such a perception of Ireland among some in Europe.
This is a worn-out analysis. The Government, politicians and officials, are devoting significant time and energy to the work of the Convention at the level of detail that it warrants. We interact with other member-states daily. We have put forward constructive proposals, for example, on the method of appointing the President of the EU Commission and on jobs.
The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for European Affairs have all travelled, engaged with EU partners, made speeches and worked constructively on policy proposals since the Nice referendum.
Two politicians were named in the article. The Minister for Foreign Affairs in his speech in January rightly said that Ireland's disposition is, and will remain, positive to Europe and to the Convention. Did he deliver an novel and yet unheard-of vision for the construction of a new Europe? No, but that is not what the Convention is actually about, nor what the people want, in my view. It would be exciting, maybe, but useless.
The Tánaiste put the focus on a shared priority in Europe: jobs and growth. It is because of the urgency of the task that she and other Europeans are giving such emphasis to getting the policy right. The European Council in March is itself concentrating on this issue. So, there is all the difference between saying about Europe, "we must", as she did, rather than "they must" - which she did not.
I and my colleagues welcome all interest in this important work in the media and among the public. We look forward in the coming months to more analysis in the media on the actual issues under debate at the Convention. - Yours, etc.,
Minister of State
at the Department of Finance,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.