Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to turn to the second proposal the Minister has addressed. I echo Senator Zappone's words about our being ready to help. The second proposal, which I gather is the first one on our agenda, is the motion relating to COM (2013) 452, which has a rather obscure title. I am keen to explore the matter a little further. As the Minister has said, the Commission has proposed that the delegated acts approach is preferable for each of the instruments listed. As I understand it, this is a compendium proposal that covers a range of more than 160 legislative acts. The Commission is seeking to provide for the proposal to go through a different process, that is, the delegated acts approach. The Minister stated member states are not completely enthused by this, that negotiations have begun on the proposal and that differing views have been expressed and so on.

This gets to the heart of an issue I often have when we are debating proposals for European Union measures in the committee. There is something of a lack of information for us about what position Ireland is taking in these negotiations. Are we enthused by the delegated acts approach? I assume from the Minister's language that we are not and that we want to opt-in at this stage to be active participants in the negotiation process. However, I am keen for some clarification. What are we going to say about the Irish point of view at the negotiations? Are we going to say that we do not favour the delegated acts approach and that we would prefer the somewhat more cumbersome but none the less more democratic implementing acts approach? Is that fair to say?