Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The passing of the Lisbon treaty referendum and the implementation of the new treaty provisions on 1 December has fundamentally transformed the relationship of this Parliament with the other 26 parliaments in the EU, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. It is a dramatic and fundamental constitutional change. I understand the reason this long and extensive motion, which I ask colleagues to read, is a temporary measure to get us to a position where we can deal with the issues referred to by the leader of the Fine Gael Party. I urge the Ceann Comhairle to take a direct and specific interest in this matter.

If the independence of this Parliament is to be recognised, as distinct from being an extension of the Executive, we must recognise this is not only a matter for another committee, as this will affect every Bill enacted by the House. Significantly, it will mean, for example, that the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will be asked prior to attending a meeting of the Social Affairs Council what position she will take on behalf of the Irish Parliament on draft legislation. We have never had such a dialogue or relationship. We always have been presented with a fait accompli where legislation has been passed by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament and we have to get on with it and put it into domestic legislation. It will, rightly, fundamentally change the relationship of this Parliament not only with the institutions of the Union but with all other national parliaments because if one third of national parliaments decide that draft legislation interferes with subsidiarity, they can put up the red card and refer it back.

I acknowledge and welcome what has been done on this matter by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs but I ask the Ceann Comhairle, as the Speaker of the House, to undertake that there will be a comprehensive and detailed debate, as these provisions will change the working life of every Deputy and Senator. On the basis of an undertaking from the Ceann Comhairle, the Labour Party will agree to take the motion without debate in order that we can have a comprehensive debate in the future.

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