Mr. Michael Murphy:

Deputy Howlin is absolutely right. If I were to walk down the streets of Clonmel and told citizens that I am a member of the European Committee of the Regions, they would ask what that is about. One could say that about a lot of institutions at European, regional or national level. The reason we are here today is try to communicate our work in Europe at a local level. We do that through different mediums. We communicate our work to the regional assemblies. We also talk to local authority members. We publish and distribute newsletters. It is a real challenge, however.

I return to the concept of having a European affairs officer in every local authority. That would be very important. I would love for the Joint Committee on European Affairs to invite in the County and City Management Association, CCMA, for example, and ask what the local authority chief executives are doing. I will give a different analogy. The appointment of a broadband officer in every local authority was a new initiative introduced some years ago. I cannot emphasis enough how successful that was and we could do the same by having an EU affairs officer in every local authority.

I continuously make the point that all the citizens we represent are concerned with what they perceive to be national issues, such as infrastructural deficits. The irony is that Europe is playing a key role in delivering on those challenges. LEADER funding is spent at local level but local authorities do not communicate that this money comes from Europe. I think members understand the point I am making. It is a real challenge. We are trying and doing our best, which is why we are here today and taking a number of different steps. There is real engagement between the Irish Regions European Office and local authorities on creating awareness. If I have one message I would like delivered today, it is about the work this committee can do in delivering EU affairs officers to each local authority.