Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Fine Gael has always supported the timely transposition of EU directives into Irish law, but that is not simply a matter of good legislative housekeeping. EU directives are the method through which European legislation is enacted in each EU member state, the way in which the Union has a positive impact on the lives of European citizens. That is why the manner in which directives are introduced and imposed on the people should reflect democratic principles of accountability. If one does not have accountability, one does not have democracy. There is an increased disregard for any need to account for oneself. According to everything that we hear from the Government side of the House, it is completely unnecessary.

I have several other points that I lack the time to raise. Fine Gael has always supported the European project and we continue to do so. However, we call on the Government and the relevant Ministers to acknowledge the need for accountability and recognise that, to proceed, we need support for the European project in this country and others. The best way to secure it is to ensure accountability and that the various parliaments throughout Europe have an input into how European law affects them. It is not good enough to say that we will now accord a Minister sweeping power and authority so that he need no longer appear before the Oireachtas, introducing law through regulations and statutory instruments with primary legislative impact. This gives EU law a primary role without any regard for the Oireachtas or its institutions. We believe this is not good for democracy or the European Union. It is not in the interests of getting approval for the European constitution, for example, which the Minister appears to think will come about magically. It will not and this legislation, when amended by Government in recognition of the Opposition's input, will immensely improve that and the whole European project's transparency and accountability.

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