Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I commend the Chairman of the joint committee, Deputy Perry, and his Vice Chairman, Deputy Connick, on this report. I do not envy those who serve on the committee their membership of it. The language, terminology and abbreviations and sheer bulk of information in EU directives are extremely offputting.

I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, on his excellent work in the area of European affairs. His efforts often go unheralded.

The Joint Committee on European Scrutiny, along with the Committee of Public Accounts, is probably the most important committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas. In my view we will soon be obliged to examine how the committee system is organised. I challenge any Member to list the 25 or so committees that are in existence. I looked at the list of committees in recent days and there are some which I never knew existed. The system must be reformed. Part of any such reform should include a reallocation of a major level of resources to the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny. The European affairs committee in Denmark has a support staff of 25. If we are to take seriously the issue of our involvement in European and that of trying to connect with the public, the joint committee must be afforded the status it deserves. The members of the joint committee are slaving away on behalf of the Oireachtas and it will probably be some time before the public realises the work they do.

Irish people's perception of Europe during the past two to three decades was that it was more or less similar to a bank. However, all we ever did was withdraw money from it. With the exception of what we surrendered in respect of the fishing industry, we never made lodgments. Until recently, we continued to have a subconscious post-colonial attachment to Britain. It did not dawn on us until recently that Ireland is a sovereign and independent State. In any village, town or city, one will come across fans of Manchester United or other teams and those who watch "Coronation Street" and "X Factor".

It is time we looked into our hearts and decided the direction in which we wish to go. We must realise that there is a rich and diverse culture throughout Europe to which we can contribute and from which we can learn. Notwithstanding the fact that it will be bogged down by dealing with a great deal of administrative and technical material, I hope the joint committee will have the time to explore that aspect of our involvement in Europe. Irrespective of what happens with regard to the deliberations of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union or the Lisbon treaty, I plead with the Minister of State and the Government to afford to the joint committee the staff complement and status it deserves. I believe this can be done from within internal resources through the amalgamation of other committees which, relative to this committee, do little work. I say that hand on my heart.

The report deals with issues close to my heart, including issues relating to justice and home affairs. While I cannot read the Minister's mind, I am sure he shares my view that we should not have opted out of this under the Lisbon treaty. It would have been a strong selling point, notwithstanding we have an opt-in facility.

Crime does not recognise boundaries. Criminals can drive at speed from the greater Dublin area to Athlone to carry out a smash and grab. Also, crime crosses from the Continent of Europe to Britain and Ireland. There are no barriers to crime and as such we must ensure there are no barriers to the mechanisms we put in place to deal with it. I welcome that we will provide assistance in regard to the development of Europol. Our system must facilitate co-operation in civil and criminal matters.

It was mentioned earlier that one of the directives relates to the visa waiver programme with the United States. Ireland has a special relationship with the United States which may confuse our identity with Europe for historical reasons, in particular along the western seaboard. I believe this was a factor in the Lisbon referendum in that it was the first time we noted a regional trend. It is within Europe we have the best opportunity of securing a visa arrangement with the United States.

I spoke earlier with Deputy Perry on the role of the committee. While it was established following the last general election, it had virtually no input into the Lisbon treaty, which is a weakness in our system. Also, this House had little input into that treaty. I accept that post-referendum the matter was discussed in the House. We are all aware of the weaknesses. While yesterday there was a reform of the Common Agricultural Policy we do not yet know the details in this regard. We must rely on the media or on websites to find out what is happening as there is no mechanism in this House which provides us with an opportunity for real input into policy.

I have previously referred to the power of the Executive in Ireland. It is a weakness in our democratic system that the Legislature has greater power than the Executive. Members on the Government side have little input into policy. If the Executive did not have the power it has, and if it were required to come into this House and debate issues, the Government would not have run into the trouble it ran into in regard to the medical card issue and so on. I am not suggesting Ministers are cocooned, far from it, but they can, in particular after ten or 11 years in office, operate in a rarefied atmosphere. The time is coming when they will be relieved of that burden.

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