Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry I was late for Mr. De Rossa’s presentation. It seems that the EU works as a unit in brokering trade agreements with different countries. I do not know how that works in practice. Does Mr. De Rossa think it works well? How are Ireland’s interests served when we try to develop agreements with certain countries?

Dr. O'Brennan touched on the disconnection from, and the communication of, the EU in Ireland. He mentioned polling. I did a poll which nobody seems to care about. My office surveyed approximately 300 people around Grafton Street and 91% of them could not name one MEP. Those who could named Gay Mitchell. Fewer named Emer Costello and hardly anyone named Paul Murphy. Do the witnesses have any views on the co-option of people from the substitute list? I understand that Paul Murphy was not on that list, which would be perfectly legitimate if none of the people on the substitute list were available to go to Europe. I have nothing personal against any individual but do the witnesses believe that contributes to the sense of disconnection that seems to exist?

I release comments on EU matters to the media quite frequently but they are rarely picked up. I have touted that poll to various members of the media and at this stage I am just boring them. RTE could play a better role in the communication of what is happening in the EU. Unless one is an insomniac who happens to be watching television on that one day of the month when the EU is covered one will not know anything about it. Mr. Connolly does a very good job on the news programmes of keeping us up to date but we need more information from the EU. What would Mr. De Rossa think of holding regular fora with MEPs in Ireland or some form of communication? Who knows who would turn up at these events? There could be quarterly fora for MEPs. It is a good idea for students to get involved in politics generally and particularly in respect of the EU.

Over the weekend I attended the Convention on the Constitution where I met members of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa, AWEPA, who were here to discuss African development and democracy. They mentioned European involvement in the development of democracy in Africa. Do the witnesses think that there is a role to be more fully explored in that respect or is it already up and running? It is not on my radar. The members of AWEPA said that Ireland because of its history, and because it is not naturally inclined towards colonialism, is ideally suited to being a leader in that work. I would be interested in witnesses’ comments on that point. I have other questions but that is probably enough for now.