Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Butler might be interested to hear that I read seven eighths of the document, which I found fascinating. It is different to submissions we have received from others to date in so far as he appears to have researched ways and means of this committee being better empowered in terms of holding the Parliament and the Executive to account, which is very refreshing. Mr. Butler has touched on many issues. I note from the quotations he referenced that he is an academic. However, there is nothing wrong with that. I married an academic.

Mr. Butler has raised important questions about the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy, which issues were previously discussed at COSAC conference in Dublin Castle. While it was interesting that so many people had come together under one roof, the average delegate was unable to engage in a serious way on the issues on the agenda.

This leads me to the role of the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, and our role, as a small committee in a small country, vis-à-visthe European Union. Deputy Durkan disagreed with Mr. Butler's view on Ministers coming before the joint committee. Perhaps we could tease out the degree to which Ireland compromised in respect of its relationship with the other 27 member states at the COSAC conferences.
I highlighted our interest in European and international affairs. We heard about what Mr. O'Halpin said. While I do not know anything about Mr. O'Halpin, I note the excitement in the contribution made by my colleague who has just left the meeting. Was Mr. O'Halpin criticising the Irish electoral system for promoting clientelism through multi-seat constituencies? Serious people argued at either this committee or the Committee on European Union Affairs that the single transferable vote system was not serving us well. Perhaps I am misreading Mr. O'Halpin. I disagree with his view that there is little interest in the European Union and international affairs. I believe we have been to the fore at all levels in this regard.
I congratulate Mr. Butler again on his report which I assume will be read by administrators. I refer especially to his views on how we should grasp the opportunity to reinvigorate ourselves and become more involved in the power structure. Perhaps it is coincidental that he repeatedly argued that Denmark has a different and better system given that he may know the Danish system inside out. The paper makes a statement to the effect that the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs is directed by the Danish foreign affairs committee.