Ms Mairead McGuinness:

I thank the Chairman and members for the invitation to attend. I also thank Ms Barbara Nolan for her presentation.

I am a member of the agriculture and the environment committees and a vice chair of the European Parliament, in which role I deal with the issue of communications, or at least I try to. It is something that, at some stage, might be a subject for discussion between the two parliaments - how we communicate as parliamentarians. It is an issue about how we explain the work we do. It has been said to me that people do not know what we do. I often say people do not know what happens in the county council chamber. How we communicate is an issue for politics. This is an open invitation to committee members to have a discussion on communications.

I agree with the approach taken in the work programme in that less is more. I am now a lifer in the European Parliament, in that I have served two terms, with the second mandate being about fire-fighting and writing more legislation than was humanely possible. We have had our fill of legislation. We need effective implementation; we also need feedback on where regulations and legislation are ineffective or excessive and then get rid of them. I agree with the Commission's general approach.

On the investment programme, I get the impression from the conversation not just here but also elsewhere that it is included in the Commission's plan. There is a great responsibility on member states to suggest projects that can receive funding. This is an invitation to the 28 countries to come up with good ideas and funding will be made available. That is the challenge for Ireland and all other member states. The projects and programmes will succeed or fail, depending on what the member states can devise.

The third point is that there is no magic money available. In discussions around Europe the question that is most frequently asked of our colleagues - members will echo this - is whether funding is available for projects. I was present for the last budget discussions, but the tragedy is that there is little or no willingness among the member states - we get more than we give - to increase their contributions; there are net contributors that state: "Thus far and no more". Many countries want to pull back in their funding for the European Union. I suggest the committee discuss at a future meeting the review of the overall budget, how money is collected, who contributes and how we might put it on a sounder footing. The subject of own resources is part of that discussion and should not be ignored, as we need to look at all options. Having a strong centrally funded European budget is very important to ensure solidarity between member states. I hope greater solidarity might emerge out of the crisis, as well as a strengthening of the budget.

There is not a great deal said about agriculture because there should be no need to do so. What there should be is a CAP reform implementation plan, as well as the roll-out of the rural development programme which, from an Irish perspective, is of huge importance and eagerly awaited. We are happy that we will receive a letter of comfort from Commissioner Hogan, in particular, on the roll-out of the agri-environment scheme. There is a problem in rural areas generally of underinvestment. While there is recovery in Dublin, it needs to filter into rural communities. The rural development programme is part of this, but so too is the roll-out of broadband and other measures that have been mentioned. These are very important aspects which should be kept in mind.

I do not share the concern about secrecy and transparency with regard to the TTIP. If I may be forgiven for saying so, it is overdiscussed. Perhaps people do not read enough of what is available on the web on which there is a wide range of material available. My approach to negotiations is that Ireland is a trading nation; we export more goods and services than we can consume. The Commission will be leading the negotiations. I would like our negotiators to look for opportunities for the European Union and be aware of the threats posed. In the agriculture sector there are opportunities and threats. On the dairy side, we are seeking benefits, while the beef sector has concerns. It is a question of what is in the detail of any potential deal on which my colleagues and I in the European Parliament will have a say. We must be mindful of the concerns expressed. It is welcome that the committee will discuss the issue.

This year in the European Union the focus is on development. In this regard it will focus on the issues of labour and migration. We should mention this for two reasons. There is the horror where people leave their home countries in Africa and risk life and limb and even give birth in the waters of the Mediterranean as they flee conflict or desperate circumstances or because of a lack of hope. However, the European Union is not coping particularly well in dealing with this problem.

It is in our interests as a Union to ensure we develop their economies and give them some hope.