Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the reason for the decision to close down the National Forum on Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15589/09]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach the costs that have accrued to his Department since January 2009 in respect of the National Forum on Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17397/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the decision to close down the Forum on Europe. [20714/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together.

The decision to close the National Forum on Europe has been taken against the backdrop of the current budgetary position in which the Government finds itself, and the necessity to review all areas of expenditure. Since its establishment in 2001, the forum has provided a platform for debate and discussion on Europe in Ireland. The Government acknowledges its excellent contribution over the years and wishes to put on record its appreciation of the excellent work of its chairman, Maurice Hayes.

I also want to record my thanks to the current and former members, directors and staff of the forum and its many other participants, including those on the observer pillar. The Government is fully committed to ensuring the continuation of broad debate on the nature and importance of the European Union. However, the time has come to reassess how this is best done in light of the current budgetary conditions.

The Oireachtas has demonstrated that it can be an extremely effective location for such debate, as shown most recently by the comprehensive work of the sub-committee dealing with Ireland's future in Europe. The Government has committed to engagement with the political parties over the coming period to discuss how best to ensure that the Oireachtas can take the debate forward in the coming months, when our membership of the European Union is very much in the spotlight. I believe we should build on the excellent work of the sub-committee last year, which engaged in very extensive consultation with independent experts, political parties, advocacy and lobby groups.

In addition, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is overseeing the development of a public awareness programme to improve public understanding of the European Union, how it functions and the implications and benefits of Ireland's membership. This will be developed in parallel with initiatives by the European Commission and European Parliament offices in Ireland. Expenditure by the National Forum on Europe to 31 May this year amounted to €401,817.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The research and findings following last June's Lisbon treaty referendum result demonstrated a low level of knowledge among the public about the European Union, its institutions and their workings and interactions. Accordingly, does the Taoiseach believe it was a wise decision to close down the National Forum on Europe? Does he also consider it desirable that this decision was taken unilaterally by the Government instead of being brought before the House for its consideration?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As I stated in my reply, I commend those who worked in the forum, its chairmen, all who served it and those who regularly attended it. However, while the forum had many good sessions since the first Nice referendum, from which the Government's initiative for the forum arose, its impact on public awareness of the intricacies and detail of how the Union works was no greater perhaps to any measurable significant extent. I am not taking away from the forum's efforts, professionalism and good reports but there is a wider issue at stake with which one cannot expect a structure like the forum to deal. The question is how we incorporate European Union issues into the daily and weekly debates of the House so that people can understand how the European Union and its policies interact with their day-to-day lives.

That disconnect is not unique to Ireland. The Union's institutional framework is complex; it is the only example of a multi-nation system of governance in which member states share sovereignty in some areas, exclusive EU competence works in others and some areas are reserved for member states. It has an intricate and complex architecture which people may find off-putting. The only way to get over that is how we debate EU issues in the House.

We live in an era of interdependence. Many problems which span national borders can only be resolved through co-operation and the level of integration the European Union is pursuing which is unique compared to other parts of the world.

The Oireachtas, as the democratic assembly of the people, should be the central place where these EU issues are discussed and developed. As practising politicians and public representatives, we have a better prospect than most, in terms of democratic legitimacy and exercising our own political skills on these subjects, to bring relevance to the day-to-day importance of European issues and discriminate between what is important and not. This is an issue of political culture that needs to be addressed. As Ireland is moving to net contributor status in the Union, we must show that it was not simply a place from which we received assistance to develop various policies or sought financial recourse when required.

The foundations of this modern economy are based on our membership of the European Union in respect of how it works and functions, as well as by how it is influenced by what goes on in Europe. We have allowed that debate to be rather ad hoc in nature, rather than an integral part of how we discuss politics.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach mentioned the point about how to make the European Union more relevant to the ordinary citizen. One suggestion Fine Gael has made many times is to allocate half a digital platform for the parliamentary channel taken from the Dáil, the Seanad, the Oireachtas committees and the European Parliament. The report that is carried on a once-monthly basis is entirely inadequate and I would strongly support the Taoiseach's adoption of that suggestion.

Second, does the Taoiseach have a view on the use of the Seanad for far more frequent interactions with MEPs and organisations that deal with Europe, which could give presentations to the Seanad? Does he envisage changes in the roles of the Joint Committee on European Affairs or the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny? Obviously, the National Forum on Europe had a part to play and I have commended former Senator Maurice Hayes previously on his work. However, as the Taoiseach is aware and with respect to it, the forum did not attract the same response of which political organisations were capable. In the context of the referendum, it is probable that neither was of the size or scope for which one would wish.

I seek an initial response in this regard. During the run-in to the next Lisbon referendum, does the Taoiseach intend to reconstitute the National Forum on Europe? Does he envisage that the sub-committee he established after the Lisbon referendum, which conducted the analysis of it, will have a role? What is his view on the suggestion that he announce that politics will be made available as a public service to people as it happens? There always is an audience, however small, for the issues under discussion in this House, the Seanad, the Oireachtas committees and in the European Parliament.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Recently, the aforementioned Oireachtas sub-committee worked very well for the specific purpose for which it was set up. It had a focus and a timeline, as well as being a well-chaired and well-worked committee. All its members are to be commended on the commitment they showed while on the sub-committee and on their ability to do a specific job, which was well done. It was good to see those who have various positions on European issues, or specifically on the referendum or their interpretation thereof, coming to Leinster House to be questioned and to see discussion taking place from here, rather than taking place vicariously somewhere else. This should be followed up on and, as I noted in my reply, I am open to discussions on this issue. The Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs have jobs to do, with which they will continue in any event. As for how Members can assist with awareness as we enter the second referendum campaign, doing so through an Oireachtas committee might be a basis from which we can work, based on the fine job that was done in recent months by the sub-committee.