The founder of Fianna Fáil, Eamon de Valera, opposed coalition government, and economic or political union with Europe. The sovereignty of Ireland was paramount for him. He told the Dáil in 1955 that while accepting there was much scope for economic cooperation, it would have been most unwise, for instance, in the Council of Europe, to enter a political federation, which meant we would have had a European parliament deciding the economic circumstances of life in Ireland.

In such an assembly, he said Ireland would be outvoted by 30 or 40 to one. He said we did not escape from foreign domination by outside forces to go into a worse situation. He saw clearly at the Council of Europe an attempt to provide a full-blooded political constitution, with members divided into political parties, like a national parliament. He noted Britain itself was sceptical of such developments.

Part of our decision to join Europe and the euro was to distance ourselves to some extent from our big neighbour and coloniser. The keenness of Britain to assist us now demonstrates that even that aim has not been fulfilled.

Anthony Jordan

Sandymount

Dublin 4