Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee I welcome the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Lucinda Creighton. She has been a regular contributor to the committee since her elevation to a ministerial position and she was previously a member of the committee. Members are aware that this is Europe week and the event is being celebrated by a number of debates in both Houses and the committees. It is appropriate that the Minister of State is with us today to broaden the discussion.

As part of its work stream on Ireland and the future of the EU, this committee has been examining issues related to the completion of the economic and monetary union, such as banking, fiscal and economic union. The issues of democratic legitimacy and accountability have been identified at EU level as the fourth critical component of a complete economic and monetary union, and as a committee we have decided to give special consideration to these issues. The issues of democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU extend beyond the area of economic governance, and in an Irish context they raise questions on the role of the Oireachtas in EU affairs. I know the Minister of State chaired a sub-committee which considered the issue in 2010.

With European elections coming in 2014 and the changes proposed, we have the opportunity to consider how to address these key questions. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's views in that respect.