JOHN Birt brought the concept of a "mission to explain" to broadcasting. Now the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton has taken it up as his personal cause for the European Union.
Time and again, Mr Bruton returned during his Dublin Castle press conference yesterday to the need to explain the simple messages behind the complex language of Europe and to bridge the gulf of understanding between the EU and its citizens.
The EU is about cheap mortgages, access to jobs, fighting the drugs menace and peace in Europe, he insisted. "I would like to make the point that we in this country have the lowest interest rates in 30 or 40 years, the lowest mortgage rates. We have, that because of the Maastricht criteria
If we didn't have that clear agreed aim there would be far greater tendency to currency instability, and if there were a tendency to currency instability there would be higher interest rates, more expensive houses, and fewer jobs."
On the platform between the gilded pillars of the magnificent St Patrick's Hall were Mr Bruton, the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, the Commission President, Mr Jacques Santer, and two of its vice presidents, Sir Leon Brittan and Mr Manuel Marin.
"We both recognise that in strengthening the European Union we are engaged in a democratic exercise," Mr Bruton said of yesterday's discussion between the Cabinet and the Commission, "and a democratic institution must begin and end with what the citizens of Europe want."
"It's very important that in the emphasis on the technical work we have to do that we keep reminding ourselves that the intended outcome of all of this is an improved way of life for every citizen of Europe, whatever part of Europe they may live in.
In reality, they, were sending out two or three simple messages the EU is about "secure employment and more, employment. Around 18 million EU citizens are unemployed.
The fight against drugs and organised crime which had to be conducted at an international level were key priorities of the Presidency, he said. And he insisted that if there is to be peace in the world, the European Union must be able to act in a concerted way in its external relations and in ensuring that peace exists around Europe's borders".
Mr Santer took up many of the same themes as Mr Bruton. Europe faced key challenges, he said, with its first priority being the economic need both to create employment and prepare for the single currency.
The EU had to continue its preparations for enlargement, with its "constructive engagement" with the countries of central and eastern Europe. The treaty changing Inter Governmental Conference, was of critical importance, he said.
Mr Bruton said he wanted to see "concrete conclusions" from the December Dublin summit particularly in boosting research and help to small and medium sized businesses.
Mr Santer said Ireland was "one of the success stories of the EU", adding that the country's economic performance proved there was no contradiction between the fulfilling of the Maastricht criteria and creating jobs. Sound public finances, he said were a prerequisite of jobs creation.
On drugs, Mr Bruton said the Cabinet was committed to a very specific programme the implementation of the Europol Convention, enhancing co-operation between police and forensic authorities, new approaches to tackling the problems of production in Latin America and South East Asia by fostering alternative production, a focus on curbing amphetamine and precursor production in Europe and the harmonisation of sentencing policy on drug traffickers.
Mr Bruton played down problems associated with British Euroscepticism.
"It's important to understand that Britain has a different view about what Europe should be doing from the other member states but that is not the same as saying that Britain is hostile, to the European purpose. They simply have a different point of view about it and that's normal in any political arrangement."
Sir Leon said the experience of EU membership had contributed to the peace process in the North.
