Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Taoiseach mentioned the point about how to make the European Union more relevant to the ordinary citizen. One suggestion Fine Gael has made many times is to allocate half a digital platform for the parliamentary channel taken from the Dáil, the Seanad, the Oireachtas committees and the European Parliament. The report that is carried on a once-monthly basis is entirely inadequate and I would strongly support the Taoiseach's adoption of that suggestion.

Second, does the Taoiseach have a view on the use of the Seanad for far more frequent interactions with MEPs and organisations that deal with Europe, which could give presentations to the Seanad? Does he envisage changes in the roles of the Joint Committee on European Affairs or the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny? Obviously, the National Forum on Europe had a part to play and I have commended former Senator Maurice Hayes previously on his work. However, as the Taoiseach is aware and with respect to it, the forum did not attract the same response of which political organisations were capable. In the context of the referendum, it is probable that neither was of the size or scope for which one would wish.

I seek an initial response in this regard. During the run-in to the next Lisbon referendum, does the Taoiseach intend to reconstitute the National Forum on Europe? Does he envisage that the sub-committee he established after the Lisbon referendum, which conducted the analysis of it, will have a role? What is his view on the suggestion that he announce that politics will be made available as a public service to people as it happens? There always is an audience, however small, for the issues under discussion in this House, the Seanad, the Oireachtas committees and in the European Parliament.

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