Eurozone countries should form United States of Europe, says EC vice-president

See, you're illustrating the problem perfectly. The part of Ireland I'm from in particular most certainly does not view out native tongue as a waste of time. Any Brussels Bureaucrat who came up with the stuff you just posted would not be winning a vote on his proposals any time soon.

It is not for minor unelected European bureaucrats to criticise the policy of the democratically elected, largely accountable, and clearly transparent Coalition Government of Her Majesty and the people of the United Kingdom. Didn't Belgium close their government down entirely for a while ? I am beginning to realise that the "free movement of labour" - another subject Ms Reding saw fit to lecture us on - is an EU ploy to undermine national identities of sovereign states.

Not sure what is so radical about I have just posted.

Well, maybe somewhere in the west of Ireland, Gaelic is of some use. Why exactly it's mandatory for children to learn is beyond me.

Paying 60 euros to see the GP?

90 percent of schools controlled by the Catholic Church ? Discrimination against non Catholics ?

Those bureaucrats are looking better.

Not sure what is so radical about I have just posted.

Well, maybe somewhere in the west of Ireland, Gaelic is of some use. Why exactly it's mandatory for children to learn is beyond me.

Paying 60 euros to see the GP?

90 percent of schools controlled by the Catholic Church ? Discrimination against non Catholics ?

Those bureaucrats are looking better.

What's so radical isn't your policy ideas. The issue is, whether or not you agree with their policies, they are for the Irish to decide. It is relatively religious and patriotic country, and on a democratic basis is run as such. To be blunt, no-one in Ireland cares one iota whether someone in Britain, Belgium or France reckons they should learn Irish in school. If they believe it's the right thing to do for their nation, they'll do it. That's democracy. You cannot operate politics in a vacuum where cultural differences are ignored and policies imposed by people unconnected and arguably illegitimate - it will cause only resentment.

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Of course, they are for the Irish people. They are sensible policies.

I don't doubt there is support for learning Gaelic in Ireland. However, that does not make it sensible.

With regards to education, I doubt there is significant support for religious bigots to control the education system so they can continue their system of discrimination.

This is nothing new and i'm quite happy for the Euro-zone to become a federal nation (at this stage the UK should not be part of it - though for different reasons than the Euro-skeptics).

It's not about the policies. It's not about being sensible. It's about the freedom to decide. It is subjective, and decisions for the nation of Ireland should be made by the people of Ireland. That's why I oppose federalisation.

Want reason would that be? Just out of interest, usually enjoy your opinion on things.

Well essentially we start from the position that I don't oppose federalism involving the UK and Europe (though I'd prefer the Anglosphere).

With regards to the Euro I'm not convinced measures have been taken to prevent another debt crisis in some states. Assuming that they actually enforce fiscal surplus then to prevent another crisis you still need either to have economies following the same model (so that the exchange rate is right for everybody) or you need mutual debt issuance so that the Euro debt is judged as a whole rather than individually (Germany would pay higher bond rates than now, Greece less due to the fact that Eurobonds would be closer to an average position). Neither of these has sufficiently occurred and there's no guarantee that the Spanish government will stick to a German export model. Equally the UK would need option 2 since we run stinking trade deficits.

With regards to the EU I won't support federalism with a body who's structure is designed to amplify the vested interests of nation states (the commission actually gets its orders from the council). Until the parliament is given supremacy and the commission made up of MEPs I'm hesitant to integrate.

My main objection though is the unified armed forces. Europe is too pacifist.

What do you think the merits of an Anglosphere would be? Obviously we share linguistic and cultural similarities, but would it be economically viable? Also how far would membership extend, do we accept commonwealth countries without a significant native English speaking population, i.e. South Africa, India?

Have to agree that a unified armed force is a bad idea. The security needs of the United Kingdom and France could not be met by a unified EU Military. Plus with the issue of reluctance to use force, Europe would probably sit out of every conflict even when it is in their interest. NATO in my opinion still fills a sufficient role in security.