Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will take the opportunity to make some remarks myself. It is a pleasure to meet everyone. As I am new to the Chair of this committee, I did not have the opportunity to travel with the committee, but I gather from talking to members that it was an excellent visit. I put on record my absolute support for enlargement and membership for Georgia of the European Union. I will follow up on one or two issues that have come out of this exchange.

My understanding of the witnesses' replies to various members about the withdrawal of the legislation, was that they stand over the legislation fully but decided to withdraw it because of a perception issue. Without nitpicking through every detail, I think that would worry a number of people who have genuine concerns about that legislation. I am a passionate advocate of European Union enlargement. Most people of every persuasion in Ireland are. However, there must be an understanding, not only of the literal means of enlargement but also of the value system of the European Union and what it means with regard to the mindset of how legislation is framed and how it comes before a parliament. For the information of the witnesses, I will explain that our committee system works in the same way as in Georgia. NGOs do not have the right to participate in every meeting but we work with our NGOs and with civil society and engage with them on the formulation of legislation and especially on Committee Stage in the Oireachtas to hear their views. It is therefore worrying when many respected NGOs in Ireland have raised such serious concerns about this. The principle that there was nothing wrong with the legislation and that it was only withdrawn because of the perception, is worrying.

Some of the major points the witnesses made about how they are dealing with the process are welcome. I wholeheartedly agree that matters such as polarisation cannot be quantified. There is no scale or agreement and it is almost an impossible issue. The witnesses were interesting in the way they spoke about that issue. The original aspect was how the idea that legislation could come to the fore. By the way, I fully respect the point the witnesses made as it is imperative, in any society where there is strategic input from civil society and NGOs, that they are governed by transparency which is the same transparency in place for political representatives. To have equality in the process, there must be equality in the treatment but that should never veer even remotely towards a situation where legislation is used as a curtailment.

We are heading towards 11.30 a.m. I want to give the witnesses plenty of time to reply before we have to conclude our meeting.