Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

The Joint Committee on European Scrutiny must be empowered to require that the Minister take on board a formal opinion from the committee. I would not go so far as to suggest the Minister should be bound by such requirement as I do not agree with a mandated system. However, I believe he-she should return to the committee, if he-she chooses not to take on board such opinion, and explain the reasons in that regard. The yellow-red card system of the Lisbon treaty could be used in this regard.

We blame Europe for everything. I am sure other speakers referred to the fact that we blame Europe for our difficulties and take the credit for all that is good. The "we" in this regard is the Government, irrespective of hue. The water charges for schools is a classic example. I would like if a mechanism could be provided — this could be done through the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny or the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union — that would allow us to revisit directives that slipped through the net or to examine whether we had signed up to inappropriate proposals and perhaps to amend those decisions. We may opt not to amend them but we should at least take responsibility for our own actions. I call this the crooked carrot syndrome.

I was contacted earlier in the week by a person who told me — I do not know if this is correct — that he had received a document outlining how wool is to be treated as offal. In other words, people, when dealing with wool, must put on white gloves and other relevant garments. I am trying to get a copy of the directive concerned. This is the type of matter, if true, that is beyond comprehension and causes a great deal of difficulty. I recall when examining the inspections of the food and veterinary office that they frequently referred to a lack of implementation of measures on the part of some countries. In the case of dear old Róisín Dubh, directives were being over-implemented. We must address this issue which is of concern to many people.

When in France for the weekend or on holidays during the summer, one can eat brown bread and use the communal toilets. However, in Ireland when in business one has so many sinks one has no room for anything else, which is crazy. I acknowledge the role of the committee and its members. There is no political thanks for one's work on a committee. I do not know if one could refer to it as a labour of love. Perhaps Deputy Connick was being punished when he was appointed to the committee.

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