Mr. Michael Murphy:

Yes - Contae Tiobraid Árann. I thank the Chairman and the committee for facilitating and hosting us this morning. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be here. As head of the Irish delegation to the European Committee of the Regions, CoR, I am delighted to give a céad míle fáilte to my dear friend President Tzitzikostas and to thank him for taking the time to visit Ireland. From the outset, I reiterate his call for a reformed Europe built from the bottom-up on a model of a European house of democracy. I thank him for his words of solidarity on this week's worrying developments regarding the Northern Ireland protocol. I want to be very clear on my behalf and that of the Irish delegation to the CoR and put on record our complete opposition to the decision taken by the UK to table legislation disapplying core elements of the protocol. As stated by Vice President Šefovi, unilateral action damages mutual trust. The Irish delegation to the CoR calls for a calm and measured joint approach to addressing any outstanding issues with the protocol. Protecting peace on this island is paramount.

In the CoR, I sit alongside President Tzitzikostas in the European People's Party Group, which is the largest political group in the CoR. President Tzitzikostas often reminds us of the following and I must reiterate it here now. Local and regional authorities implement 70% of all EU legislation and represent half of public employment, more than a half of public investment and a third of public spending. The CoR is the EU institution that is closest to European citizens. Sometimes it is forgotten that we are the second of only two EU institutions with elected members so we have clear democratic legitimacy.

Since the start of this mandate in February 2020, I have had the privilege to lead the work of one of the legislative committees of the CoR as the chair of the economic policy commission. The European Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, ECON, has examined legislative proposals from the European Commission on the implementation of free trade agreements, the Brexit adjustment reserve, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, to mention a few of our reports, and has sent them on to the co-legislators to influence colleagues and impact laws that take account of regional and local assets and challenges. As an example, I highlight the work of a recently adopted opinion for which I was rapporteur entitled "Strengthening the EU-UK relationship at subnational level and remedying the territorial impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU". There was much concern from local authorities across Europe about how the UK exit from the EU would impact their regions. On the UK side, I did not find the same tired political rhetoric we hear day and night from Westminster, rather the opposite. UK local and regional authorities have genuine concerns about the future relationship and have a real desire to work with Irish and EU local and regional authorities to ensure the smoothest and safest transition for their regions. I have copies of this opinion with me and would be delighted to take the committee through it bilaterally. I think my colleagues have copies.

There are significant opportunities for Ireland - for our communities and our citizens - but we need support for local authorities. We are very lucky to have the Irish regions European office in Brussels, which acts as a bridge between Irish local and regional government and the EU explaining and guiding its stakeholders through the Brussels scene and promoting Irish interests and best practices at the European level. This includes strong networks - place-based networks with regional offices representing large swathes of Europe - that often have legislative powers and fiscal autonomy for certain areas of competence.

I believe more can be done at local level. We all know the benefits of having a European officer in each local and regional authority. An example of what can happen when supports are given is the Chairman's own constituency of Donegal. Donegal County Council has installed a full-time European office. The same can be said for Cork City Council and Limerick City and County Council. I call on the committee to support the allocation of funding for European officers in local and regional authorities across the country. It is no surprise that it is those local authorities that have a full-time EU affairs officer that are the ones best positioned to access the great opportunities that exist at European level.

Before handing over to my colleague Councillor Kate Feeney, who will outline in more detail the work of the Irish delegation, I will conclude by paying tribute to my CoR colleagues - the members and alternates in the Irish delegation to the CoR. It is a genuine pleasure to lead this group of dedicated public representatives, who are working tirelessly in Brussels on behalf of local communities of Ireland. I invite the joint committee to Brussels to see at first hand the work of the Irish delegation in the CoR.