Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

As the Minister of State said, this is an important section. I welcome it and the fact that he and his staff have included it in the body of the legislation. Its inclusion reflects the enhanced role of the Oireachtas. It will be a matter for the Oireachtas to tease out the mechanisms required for the implementation of its new role with regard to subsidiarity and other powers granted by this legislation. Perhaps it would be best to leave the matter until we have an opportunity to examine carefully how best to respond to the totality of the Lisbon treaty and the powers it confers on the House.

See this speech in context