Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One of the outputs to be achieved under programme A is to address how the Oireachtas engages with other European parliaments and the Union itself, particularly in regard to the European semester, a module of which will take place next week in Brussels. This is not directly tied to the Minister as a line Department issue, but the role of this sub-committee is tied to the Department in many ways. One of the criticisms that was made of the Government prior to our entering the bailout programme was the evidence of what might be described as a level of disconnectedness with Europe, including poor attendance records at EU meetings by Irish parliamentarians and officials. We have now exited the bailout programme. Looking at the outputs, cognisance is given to the need to maintain a centre-of-Europe approach in dealing with these issues. How does the Minister see that materialising and what are the nuts and bolts of the strategy?