Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank Members for their agreement to the establishment of the committee. I have been engaged in discussions since late July with representatives of the different political parties to ensure that the Oireachtas would have a role not only in debating but in charting a way forward regarding this country's engagement with the European Union. That is the rationale behind the establishment of this committee at its most fundamental. As one Opposition Member stated to me, it would be unthinkable if the Oireachtas was not to discuss this issue not only given the decision of the people in the referendum per se but, broadly, in terms of identifying the issues for Ireland and Europe into the future. Deputy Tuffy asked where do we draw the line and these are issues in which the committee needs to engage.

I am somewhat disappointed at Deputy Ó Caoláin's reference to a bogus debate. I made clear in my engagement with him that it is anything but. I would have taken his participation in this as evidence that this was to be an opportunity for all shades of opinion in the House——

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