Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the two organisations for coming to the committee and for their contributions. It is great to get a grassroots organisational view from The Wheel of these matters and of the European Union in general. I thank the representatives for the work they do in increasing awareness of the European Union in this regard.

We have noted what the witnesses have said about participation in EU-funded programmes and the many other suggestions that were made in the presentations. The committee should follow up on those suggestions. Very often witnesses come in who are experts and professional people, some of whom may be part of the elite, but it is terribly important to get a grassroots view of Europe and to ensure that the EU is close to its citizens. Again, I thank The Wheel representatives for the work they do.

I found the Law Society of Ireland presentation very interesting. It was good to learn about the Council of Bar and Law Societies of Europe, CCBE, which I had not heard of before. This is an important organisation within the European Union framework. I also note the representatives' comments on promoting Ireland as a leading centre for international legal services. This is something the committee would heartily support and throw its weight behind.

My question to the Law Society of Ireland witnesses relates to the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement is back in the news again and centre stage as the Brexit deadline of 31 October approaches, specifically around the legality of that and how the agreement is threatened by Brexit. Has the Law Society of Ireland, or groups affiliated with the society, conducted any investigation or research into the Good Friday Agreement, how Brexit may affect it, and the legality and seriousness of the situation? Has the Law Society of Ireland or any of its members prepared any papers on this? I am interested to hear what the witnesses have to say on this and on the threats to the Good Friday Agreement arising from Brexit. It is a very legal document so I presume they have an opinion on this.