Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have one quick point on the relationship between the work of the Committee of the Regions and the assemblies, of which most of the witnesses are members. Are the assemblies forums to which they can bring back reports from the Committee of the Regions? Perhaps we could invite some of the assemblies to meet this committee given that it embraces European affairs and the assemblies are European institutions in a sense. They are Irish institutions linked to Europe.

As far as I can make out, the witnesses are the liaison officers for the three regions. With respect to the media, they can no longer afford to provide the type of coverage they provided when Councillor Freehill was previously a member. In the past, a regional meeting would have received coverage, but local papers no longer have sufficient staff or funding to cover these meetings. Local radio stations have funds but they rely on press releases and so on. Perhaps this would be a good forum for the assemblies to give their views on their future in the new Europe after Brexit.