Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

During the campaign on the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty the Oireachtas came together in committee. It did not come together on Government and Opposition lines. I accept most members were pro-Lisbon treaty, but they were not divided along party lines. There is an opportunity for Parliament to come to the Executive. We are often criticised for the way things are organised; that the Executive leads the Oireachtas. I do not wish to be overly prescriptive or to impose a solution on the Oireachtas. The solution must come from the Oireachtas. That is my genuine position. Issues might arise and we might not agree with everything. The Executive will have a position on some issues, as will I and the Government. I cannot determine these matters on my own.

From 1 December on, the provisions of the Lisbon treaty will come into force. We have to work quickly on the administrative arrangements to give effect to the new disposition, which will mean that all laws will come directly to Parliament from 1 December onwards. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle has already said that the speakers will meet under the Swedish Presidency. There is a need for the Oireachtas to come together, perhaps at committee level or through the Ceann Comhairle, to put together a programme on how parliamentarians consider we should move forward.

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