Dublin, Ireland
December 18, 2012 7:30 AM,GMT

As a country, the Irish were happy to be involved in Europe at the outset  as huge European grants funded our development and produced safe new roads. Now, thirty years later, as the tide has shifted, many people are bemoaning the loss of our sovereignty to France and Germany. The country is divided between Euro-supporters and Euro-sceptics.

Are we ungrateful for all Europe has done for us, has that train left the station or are we correct to fight hard for every concession possible?

Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, TD, is at the heart of negotiations on behalf of Ireland. She sees first hand the context in which we are perceived by European heads of state, and she understands the exact financial dilemma we, as a country, find ourselves in.

Hear the unvarnished truth of the European matter first hand, and hear also the Minister's take on her first year in office: a baptism of fire where she received a senior post with significant responsibility which brought a large dollop of distaste from the voting public. Her year included attempts to negotiate better terms and debt restructuring, navigate a Government Referendum, get up to speed on a broad portfolio, brush up on her European languages while squeezing her wedding somewhere in the middle.