Sir, - I would first like to welcome the media interest in the issues raised by Ms de Valera's speech in Boston. These have been continually discussed at many meetings organised by the European Parliament's Dublin office and the Irish Council for the European movement, but have largely been ignored by commentators. Do these issues become important only when articulated in the United States? The fact that the Minister referred specifically to the threat to Irish "culture, identity and traditions" is of particular interest to me as I have served for many years as vice-president of the European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee.
Sixteen years ago, when I was first elected, Ireland had the lowest level of environmental awareness in the Community. The introduction of important pieces of European legislation, such as the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, have played an enormous role in protecting our precious environment. When I was elected, the only response here to environmental issues appeared to be when certain Irish MEPs rushed into the Environment Committee to oppose any legislation, for example, that interfered with the CAP or the protection of our bogs and wetlands. EU legislation has had a huge and very positive effect on the renaissance and protection of our culture. Massive support - millions and millions of euros - has been focused on preserving our heritage in the Gaeltacht areas.
The small, though growing number of cultural programmes which have been assisted by the EU, for example, the Galway Film Fleadh, traditional music events, protection of copyright for artists, film-makers and the audio visual industry generally, have succeeded in opening up Irish culture both to ourselves and beyond our shores. Indeed, it is remarkable just how well known and appreciated Irish culture is throughout the Community. I have never argued the case for European Union on the basis of the money we have received over the years. However, we cannot deny that our agriculture, our roads and our education system have also been intricately linked to Europe and have also benefited by their close links to the wider European networks. Thousands of our young students in university have benefited from the Erasmus programmes and vocational training schemes initiated in Brussels. This is just a small list of the manypositive benefits from our membership of the EU. Yet always at the heart of our relationship with Europe is the understanding that we strive to achieve unity and harmony while preserving our diversity.
Sadly, all too often the cynicism and greed which have so often characterised our relationship with the EU are in real danger of having a negative effect in terms of public opinion. The future of Europe belongs to its youth and it is our job to help them understand the history and the enormous political courage it has taken to form the European Community.
Finally, I hope that now we will have a proper and meaningful debate on Europe and our place in it. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Banotti MEP, Dublin 2.