Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Has the committee met? If so, how many times? The reason I tabled the question is that during previous Question Times, the Taoiseach indicated that this committee would be a core part of the new role of his Department in overseeing European affairs. He also claimed that every Department would be given a clear national role in terms of its objectives in pushing the EU. This supposed diplomatic initiative, which was announced last March and re-announced repeatedly afterwards, was clearly no more than a line for the media. Questions are being asked about how serious the committee is and what impact it will have. Has the committee done work on the new fiscal treaty and the demands it will impose on Ireland? Has it prepared any studies of its impact or has it written position papers on the treaty? Drafts of the treaty have been published. Has the Government a position on any of the issues outlined in the drafts? What work has the committee done in this regard over the past number of months?

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