Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister's comments on this important report of the European Parliament. I would like to see the Irish Parliament adopt a strong position, which due to the system we have in this country must be led by the Government. The provisions of the Lisbon treaty in regard to national parliaments are exciting. They offer a huge opportunity to bring Europe and European affairs to our citizens. We have an opportunity to shape how that will happen at a European level.

The previous resolution of the European Parliament on national parliaments was in 2002. That indicates the level of priority that was given to this issue when the Treaty of Lisbon was being negotiated and was going through the ratification process. Now that is done we are in a position to move on.

The report contains some exciting proposals. We can even look beyond that at the elements which need to be driven from a domestic level. There have been several joint parliamentary meetings between national parliamentarians and MEPs. I attended one such meeting in Brussels yesterday and the previous day. Deputy Dooley and Senator de Búrca attended as well. It is not a satisfactory forum at all. It is far too big and unwieldy and it is very difficult to focus on issues of mutual concern. The way forward has to be through co-operation via committee structures involving members of national parliaments with MEPs who have specific expertise in a particular area where they can drive an esoteric agenda.

I urge the Minister to look seriously at the proposal to have a state of the European Union debate on an annual basis in the Chamber and to allow MEPs to participate in it. That would send a strong and positive signal.

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