Dr. Gavin Barrett:

I only saw the discussion in which Ms Costello participated. That is an excellent initiative which will prove useful for the future. I do not know how the ideal form of engagement might look. I can say that one area in which we have proved very weak is in using the resources we have at European level. For instance, we have a former director of the World Trade Organization. The current director of the European Union Civil Service, Ms Catherine Day, is Irish, as is her predecessor in that role. In addition, we have a former President of the European Parliament. These people, among whom I include our MEPs, represent an amazing resource of which we are not making full use. I do not know exactly how the engagement should be structured, but structured it can and should be. The committee might well have a role in that regard. It should at least be possible, for example, to have meetings with MEPs from time to time in respect of particular proposals.