Is The European Union (EEC) Good for Ireland? 1983
Ойын-сауық
Ten years after joining the EEC, what has membership done for Ireland and what contribution has Ireland made to Europe?
In 1973 Ireland, along with the United Kingdom and Denmark, joined the European Economic Community (EEC). Ten years on, ‘Today Tonight’ examines the impact that membership of the community has had on Ireland.
Interviews from the time reflect people’s hopes, aspirations, and fears ahead of joining the EEC and the common market. Ireland’s entry to the EEC was decided by referendum with 83% of the electorate voting to join.
If we’re not in it, we’re out on a limb, we’re on our own.
I think it would be suicide for us if we didn’t go into it.
Ireland joined the EEC largely in a spirit of optimism with an expectation of higher standards of living, higher prices for agricultural products, new industrial markets, and more jobs. Una Claffey examines whether the reality of membership has lived up to expectations.
The idea of a United States of Europe arose from the devastation of the Second World War.
The Organisation for European Economic Cooperation was formed to implement the US Marshall Aid Plan. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed the establishment of a European Federation which was the beginning of what we know as the EEC. Schuman’s proposal led to the formation of the European Coal & Steel Community integrating the coal and steel industries of France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In 1957, the process of integration took a step forward with the Treaties of Rome. In January 1973 the community expanded from six to nine members with the inclusion of the UK, Denmark, and Ireland. In 1981, Greece joined and negotiations are now underway for the entry of Spain and Portugal.
Reporter Una Claffey looks back at the foundation of the community and what the future holds for the common European market with contributions from Gaston Thorn President of the Commission of the European Parliament, and commissioners Brendan McNamara, Eamon Gallagher and Dr Tom Dwyer on whether the promises of the common market have been realised.
Gaston Thorn, comments on the future of Europe and the need for a second generation European community. For Brendan McNamara, Ireland’s development could only be achieved within the network of a widening world market as part of Europe.
It was this kind of thinking that inspired the referendum campaign. Above all, the most attractive factor in joining Europe was the potential market it offered to farmers. This report features archive footage of the campaign trail ahead of the referendum on both the yes and no sides.
This episode of ‘Today Tonight’ was broadcast on 10 January 1983. The reporter is Una Claffey.
Пікірлер: 84
Love these videos. Thank you for sharing
I was born in 1962 and emigrated to the US in 1984 I would not swap my childhood for anything like everything in life there are the pros and cons with every decision made, the standard of living has increased greatly since the days of the Black and White TV rentals,Wanderly Wagon ,the coal bunker in the back garden and my mother flying outside to take the washing in when she saw a flock of starlings.
@secondhorizon
Жыл бұрын
lovely images ~ my mother also had a Solar Dryer out in the yard
Noel and Liams grandad there with the flat cap!
Not 1983. Looks like 1973. World of difference!
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
The reported in it clearly say's it's ten years on, so 1983. Maybe the opening footage was from before 1973
Damned if you do damned if you don't
Out with the flat caps, in with the Nigerians.... Yeah, that worked out well...
Thank god the vote was yes
Haunting question at 1.05. We have our answer now.
@user-fh1rz1uq6c
Жыл бұрын
What do you mean?
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
Eh what? Who's stopping you from practicing your culture?
@rudidedog243
Жыл бұрын
@@davidkavanagh189 no legal limit to the amount of emigrants we have to accept according to Leo Veradker
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
@@rudidedog243 It's not according to him at all. Educate yourself a little
@mfitzy100
29 күн бұрын
That lady was spot on there.
Its turned out well for Ireland hasnt it 😢
@Cenotaur1
Жыл бұрын
Well, the people chose to join. Time to enjoy the consequences of those decisions. ps. thanks for paying the 70billion bad-gamble by German bondholders.
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
Yes it has. Daft comment. Not perfect but definitely better in than out.
@TheDominionOfElites
Жыл бұрын
The 2nd guy was right - things got dearer but life got better
@missingno88
Жыл бұрын
@@davidkavanagh189 how?
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
@@missingno88 We are almost entirely reliant economically on foreign direct investment(mostly facilitated by us being in the EU) and free movement and trade with the EU for our decent economy. Look at brexit. Way bigger country and not doing well at all after it! You're a clueless backward twit of you believe otherwise.
Is Ireland a better place now than before they were forced into the EU like every EEC member was. Don't forget the EU is a lot more authoritarian than its predecessor the EEC.
@discussionvideos9399
Жыл бұрын
Why post if you're just going to post bollocks!?
Best thing that ever happened to Ireland - long live the European Union.
If Ireland hadn’t joined at the time we’d have been crushed by Tariffs to our main markets at the time. There was no choice
1983????
@finolaomurchu8217
Жыл бұрын
1883 more like
@royalmonocle1322
Жыл бұрын
The opening clips were from 1973
@Jameslight648
Жыл бұрын
@@finolaomurchu8217 I think in 1883 Ireland was more developed than in 1983. I mean the South. The only ones who got advantage from the independence were the farmers, the families of the politicians and the RC church
If you ask the person on the street now they won't look like this.
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
Just when I saw the title of this video, I knew all the bigots and racists would come out from under their rocks to comment...
@rudidedog243
Жыл бұрын
Maybe he is talking about education, dental/health, social and economic issues, I think you have an agenda in your own head.
@davidkavanagh189
Жыл бұрын
@@rudidedog243 Dead right!
@fintonmainz7845
Жыл бұрын
And if you asked people in 1943 they would look different.
The EEC was a good idea. The EU is a good idea if you are a large, strong Nation. At least we haven't had a Referendum to give Brussels more power in a few years. lol
@rudidedog243
Жыл бұрын
And thanks to the Maastricht/ Lisbon treaties that we rejected we will not be able to have another referendum agaim
Good thing, but return to EEC
That hard-rocking man with the dark glasses giving his professional advise about EEC about how good it will be for Ireland but deep down he was not worried about himself as he was the leader or founder of the greatest rocking band called Thin Lizzy of have I got him mixed up with that other hard rocking and heavy drinking. smoking and trouble making bank called Tom and The Mainliners
In my opinion Ireland joining the EEC AKA EU has been a disaster. Here's to IREXIT 🙏
@owenoceillaigh5899
Жыл бұрын
Nope
@maryfox7440
Жыл бұрын
Joining the European Union has not been good for Ireland.. Ireland is being overrun by newcomers, we have no say in the matter.
@owenoceillaigh5899
Жыл бұрын
@@maryfox7440 And other countries had no say whether Irish people would come to their countries. The Irish diaspora is 6 times the size of the Irelands population at this point.
@maryfox7440
Жыл бұрын
@@owenoceillaigh5899 I disagree! Other countries decide who comes into their country.
@owenoceillaigh5899
Жыл бұрын
@@maryfox7440 How are we different to other countries?
Turkey's voting for Christmas
No... IREXIT
@fintonmainz7845
Жыл бұрын
Brit
God bless the EU, best decision we ever made.
@paulie-Gualtieri.
Жыл бұрын
Said Paddy McGinty's Goat
@woodendoors9532
Жыл бұрын
If you like lower real wages, loss of ability to choose your own laws, and mandated third world immigration.
@kerrygold6494
Жыл бұрын
Ireland, new speech laws and may possibly start culling cows.
@Cretinsahoppin
Жыл бұрын
Ah yeah, wages were great in the 80s.
@maryfox7440
Жыл бұрын
Very bad decision! We're losing our heritage Etc.
I was born in 1974 ...Ireland is a much better place now thanks to the E.U.