Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I broadly agree with Deputy Barrett's comments. The committee system of the Houses should be the forum in which Departments can bring to the attention of the House, either through Question Time, the legislative programme or regular attendance of these committees in respect of these particular areas of responsibility, what European legislation, directives, regulations or decisions are likely over a particular period. This would enable committees to decide if any of the matters are of sufficient potential impact to warrant further discussion, either with the Department or vested interests that would be grateful for any committee bringing to its attention any issues they may not be aware of in sufficient time to have an input.

As a matter of principle we should, in our efforts to bring European matters into the mainstream of our parliamentary debate, have some sort of structured approach in each committee as to how and when Ministers and Ministers of State could come before committees and bring to the attention of the committee those issues which they believe are important.

There is a significant volume of work coming through that channel — much of it mundane, technical and not of any great impact. It would be very hard to maintain the interest of any individual in it, given some of the subject matter involved. I agree this could be relevant to the Joint Committee on European Affairs or the committee dealing with European scrutiny, which was set up in the aftermath of the Nice treaty defeat to try to bring about a more proactive approach. It required Ministers to go before the committee and bring to its attention issues that would arise at subsequent European Council meetings, etc. The Oireachtas would therefore have an opportunity to have an input before rather than after decisions being taken at that level.

The Deputy also makes the very important point that ratification of the Lisbon treaty gives a greater degree of autonomy and power to national parliaments, not only in respect of prior scrutiny of impending legislation but also the ability to send back legislation that fails the subsidiarity principle, if insufficient numbers require the Commission — or whoever originated the legislation — to amend it in accordance with that principle.

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