Former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi speaks during a press conference about the future of European competitiveness at the EU headquarters in Brussels in September 2024. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images
Since Ireland joined the European Union (then known as the EEC) in 1973, Ireland has been a massive beneficiary. Today, we have the sixth richest economy in the OECD area, approaching the standard of living of the Netherlands or the US.
In the early years of membership, its main benefit was seen as the flow of funds from Brussels, particularly for farmers. In the 1970s, net receipts from the EU amounted to more than 3 per cent of national income each year.
In the 1980s, when the economy faced big challenges, the flow increased to more
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