Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I wish to update the House regarding the work of the Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs. I chair this committee which has a very busy workload, particularly in light of the fact that we hold the Presidency at the moment. First, I will discuss the work we are doing on the debate on the future of Europe. I also want to speak about ways in which we can enhance the role of national parliaments in respect of EU policy. I believe we need to bring parliaments closer to decision making in the EU, which would result in a more democratic Europe.

Our committee's remit is to consider strategic matters relating to Ireland's membership of the EU. Since February, we have been holding a debate on the future of Europe. The future of Europe means different things to different people. For some, it means seeking greater economic, political and fiscal union but to others, it is about reducing links in Europe and a return to a purely economic Community. That debate is ongoing in several countries, including the UK.

The committee felt that we need to take stock of where we are and where people think we should go. It is not the first time we have undertaken a piece of work like this. During the fiscal compact treaty debate last year, we held a debate within the committee on that matter and engaged with politicians, leaders of civil society, academics and diplomats across Europe to get their views on how this fiscal compact would impact on Ireland. These committee meetings were broadcast on UPC and allowed people to watch proceedings and become engaged. At the end of the proceedings, we published a report that included copies of all the submissions we received from members of the public as well as the attendees at the committee meetings. It gave a detailed analysis of the main arguments for and against the treaty. We published that a year ago in advance of the referendum at the end of May. It showed us that there is an appetite among Irish people for analysis of Europe and commentary on Ireland's role within Europe. We all know that Ireland's role is changing, particularly in light of the fluid nature of European affairs, so we consider it important to carry out an examination with a focus on the future of Europe.

The committee is focusing on following some key areas in the debate. We are looking at financial integration, economic and monetary union, democratic legitimacy and accountability and political integration. We are looking at something that is of great importance to Ireland, namely, the UK's involvement with the EU and how its changing policies may affect our membership. Since we began these hearings in February, we have received a number of submissions from experts across the country. We have heard from people like Nat O'Connor; the academics Seamus Coffey, Brigid Laffan and Gavin Barrett; and economists like Alan Ahearne. We have also heard from politicians such as Emer Costello, Paul Murphy and Gay Mitchell. Last week, we had the opportunity to hear from the Governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, regarding his views on economic and monetary union. These debates continue. David Lidington, the UK Minister of State for Europe, will address the committee tomorrow and we are looking forward to hearing his views on the UK's role in Europe.

I know that members of the committee on the Independent and Fianna Fáil benches are here tonight and attend the meetings on a regular basis but these meetings are open to any Member of the House. If somebody feels they want to come in and question the Governor of the Central Bank regarding the ECB or the Central Bank, they can do so. Every Member of this House will be afforded the opportunity to ask any witness any question they want so I am extending an invitation to our committee hearings to any Member of this House with an interest in Ireland's involvement in Europe.

The committee hopes to publish a response to all of these submissions during the summer. We will then work on a strategy on how to extend this debate beyond Leinster House in order that more citizens can become involved.

The committee is also engaged in a series of multilateral meetings with other European national parliaments in order to assess how the role of national parliaments in the new economic governance structure can be strengthened-----

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