Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I support this excellent Bill which, as has been said by other Senators, is not before time. We should have had a Bill on the scrutiny of the EU long before now. There is obviously a need for the Commission and the other EU institutions to make their own communication with EU states and the general public in Europe.

Much more simple language should be used in many EU communications. I have spoken at length on this subject to several members of EU institutions. While they all agree that we should have more simplified language, nothing seems to happen.

I have been a member of the European Committee of the Regions for the past five years. In that period, I have met many colleagues from the ten accession countries that are to join the EU. They were taken aback by our rejection of the Nice treaty, as were friends of ours from the present 15 member countries. They wanted to know why Ireland would not agree to reforming the institutions to allow for enlargement. That is what the Nice treaty is about, nothing more and nothing less. Many people have tried to muddy the waters and introduce red herrings into the debate, but that is the nub of the story.