Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will establish an all party task force to implement the recommendations of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7582/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union analysed the issues arising from the first Lisbon treaty referendum and its report was a major contribution to our understanding of those complex issues. The report unequivocally stated that Ireland's place is at the heart of the European Union and recommended that key concerns be addressed, that public understanding of the EU be improved and that the Oireachtas role in EU affairs should be enhanced.

In regard to the Lisbon treaty, the sub-committee identified a series of issues and options which were very relevant to the discussions leading to the legal guarantees agreed by the European Council in June 2009. The sub-committee also identified measures which could be taken at local, national and European levels to improve public, political and media understanding and engagement on European issues.

The Government is committed to improving communication on Europe and this is reflected in the revised programme for Government which contains a specific commitment to further enhance Ireland's place at the heart of Europe by encouraging the deepening of engagement by civil society at a European level. My Department's own Communicating Europe Initiative provides financial support to non-governmental and educational bodies for events and activities which aim to raise awareness of the EU in their community. A call for such proposals for 2010 was advertised last weekend in the national and regional press and the application form is available on www.eumatters.ie, http://www.eumatters.ie/the website created by my Department to provide easily accessible and reliable information about the European Union.

With regard to the role of the Oireachtas in European Union affairs, this House approved a motion on 10 December last on the implementation of new powers of national parliaments under the Lisbon treaty. This motion took note of the coming into effect of the Lisbon treaty and the European Union Act 2009 and also the Joint Report of the Joint Committees on European Affairs and European Scrutiny on Implementation of the Lisbon Treaty: Interim arrangements on the enhanced role of the Houses of the Oireachtas, of October 2008. The motion provides that detailed work to support the role of the House will continue to be undertaken by the relevant committees. I also understand that it is the intention of the joint committees to consult, over the coming period, with key stakeholders, including the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach, the Government, party Whips, the Leader of the Seanad, party leaders and the Irish MEPs. I shall be happy to appear before the joint committees as part of this process.

In light of the positive developments since the sub-committee's report, and particularly in the context of the forthcoming comprehensive review of the role of the Oireachtas in European Union affairs, I would not see added value in the establishment of an all-party task force on its recommendations.

I take this opportunity to express again my appreciation of the work of the sub-committee which made a substantial contribution to the debate on the Lisbon treaty leading to the referendum last October. In deference to the House, there was a reluctance on my part to prescribe to the House what should happen. It is in the hands of the House to create its response to the Lisbon treaty.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. It is important that we send a message to the people of Ireland, the electorate, that Europe is not just about referenda or treaties and that the role of Ireland in Europe is much more than that.

I appreciate the Minister's point on the role of the committees. There is an important role for the committees but there is a possibility that much talking can be done over an extended period. We can have debates in the Dáil, the Seanad, the Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny. We can continue going around the Houses, so to speak, but there is an opportunity for the Government, and more specifically for the Minister as Minister for Foreign Affairs, to front-load much of that and to show a certain initiative in terms of implementation.

I do not want to go through the recommendations of the committee but, for example, would the Minister consider, and I raised this matter during Question Time some months ago, doing something to celebrate Europe Day such as inviting MEPs to address the Chamber, making it an occasion of national importance, putting these two Houses at the very centre of that and making it the focal point in that regard? That would be a positive move. The Minister might agree with me on that.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach, the Government and myself are keen to be proactive in response to proposals from this House on how we now implement the Lisbon treaty and enhance the role of the Oireachtas in terms of European Union affairs. That means more plenary sessions in this House on European Union matters. We would respond very positively to that. I am impatient. I would like the House to get on with it and come to us with clear proposals. I believe that is possible, particularly given the enhanced role from the legislative perspective in terms of the issue of subsidiarity, for example, and assessing each directive that comes through and the legislation proposed.

There is a need to ensure that we create the mechanisms within the House that enable us to deal efficiently and expeditiously with EU legislation in an informed way and also, in more general debates, to bring European Union issues more into the mainstream of Oireachtas work. It is a major problem here compared to other European Union states, which I believe get a greater hearing in their Parliaments.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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I agree with what the Minister said, but this is not just a question of dealing with legislation and legislative proposals coming from the European Union. It is fair to say that both the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny and the Joint Committee on European Affairs have a large workload. We meet with both committees almost every week, which is unusual. Most committees do not meet as frequently as those two committees. It is not just about the legislative aspect, therefore. It is also about the communication aspect. I believe there is a bigger role for the House and for the Government. The Minister might share his thoughts with the House on having a European affairs office here in Leinster House, for example, as is the case in the Parliament in Denmark. School tours to Leinster House, for example, do not make it over to the European Commission office or the European Parliament office. They have no engagement. It would be a very constructive move for the Government to initiate something like that here in the House.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am on record already as supporting the establishment of a European affairs office in the House. I understand it was recommended by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny chaired by Deputy Perry, if my recollection is correct. It is a matter, therefore, for the parliamentary commission to prioritise and implement that, but I am supportive of it.

At Government level we are responding to the Lisbon treaty by enhancing the level of engagement with the European Union institutions at all levels, including Cabinet and interdepartmental level, to ensure the structures we have are robust and effective in terms of dealing with increasing volumes of directives and legislation.

I agree there should be more plenary sessions here on European Union issues. I would support that enthusiastically.