Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

In the context of today's Order Paper, I wish to inquire about a number of documents laid before the Dáil. I refer, in particular, to Nos. 12 to 16, inclusive. Nos. 15 and 16 relate to proposed regulations from Europe on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and to natural gas transmission networks. These are important issues as far as an island nation is concerned. What arrangements are in place within the Taoiseach's office to refer these important proposals to committees, particularly the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, which I have the pleasure of chairing? These proposals are being laid before the House and people are not aware of them. We must have an input in respect of them. I ask the Taoiseach to put in place automatic mechanisms under which proposals of this nature would be immediately referred to the committees, which could then report back to the House in respect of them. That is why committees were established. I do not want these proposals to proceed without the Parliament having a say in respect of them.

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