Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am very proud that we have engagement with our MEPs from the island of Ireland. On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome all the MEPs who have managed to be here today. This is a very important engagement for us as a committee. We follow all the work of the MEPs in Brussels and Strasbourg and we hear how hard they all work on the very many issues they deal with. In some ways, we mirror that hear, so it is important for us to join together periodically. Of course, they are always welcome to join our discussions and meetings but by virtue of their work and the need to be in Brussels and Strasbourg, we realise this is often very challenging. This will be a slightly different engagement in that the MEPs are not witnesses in the traditional sense; rather, it is an open engagement. They are all very much at the coalface of European developments, so we appreciate their willingness to share any views, advice or recommendations they have.

I will go off the script and say to the MEPs that I and the committee are very grateful to them for taking time to be here. I was very glad earlier to be with Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, the Ceann Comhairle and our Vice Chairman and to congratulate Ms McGuinness very much on her recent appointment and wish her the best of luck. When we came back from our trip to meet all the MEPs recently, the Senators were quick to put it on the record of the Seanad, and we Deputies to put it on the record of the Dáil, that we are very proud of our MEPs. Whether they be Independent, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin or whatever, we are supportive of the work they do. At this critical time of Brexit, I believe that now more than ever there is a very important focus on the work our MEPs do and the representation they give us on the European stage, so it is great to have them here and I very much appreciate their presence.

Before we proceed with the engagement, I must read out a reminder on privilege. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

On how we might structure this engagement, six items were suggested by members of the committee and Members of the European Parliament: the relationship between the European Parliament and national parliaments; the White Paper on the future of Europe; the EU budget and the Multi-Annual Financial Framework after 2020; the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union; amendments to Regulation No. 883/2004 on the co-ordination of the social security systems; and the European pillar of social rights. I propose that we cover these in order and have an open and frank discussion on them. The first item is the relationship between the European Parliament and national parliaments.

Considering the role of Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, I invite her to start the discussion. I aim to keep the meeting to approximately one hour and 20 minutes, if possible and within reason.