Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Dardis for sharing his time with Senator Mansergh and me. I congratulate the Labour Party for introducing a Bill which was long overdue and which has been accepted and amended by the Government side. It was initiated imaginatively by the Labour Party which I acknowledge. It is an excellent Bill. I agree with Senator Hayes that it is evolutionary, one which will not set in stone how the scrutiny committee should conduct its business. Clearly, this will emerge as the committee finds its feet. I hope our enthusiasm will not be tempered by the exigencies of the moment.

We also hope the Treaty of Nice will be passed and are determined to show citizens that a democratic deficit is not the way we intend to do business. The same can be said for Europe. I hope everybody will not just heave a sigh of relief when the treaty has been passed and then say that is the end of it. The committee will have very important work to do. That work will be back-breaking and endless and, in many cases, dull and repetitive. It will be exciting, however, if we believe it is for the benefit of the people, but much will depend on whoever sits on the committee. Will its members falter, attend when required, filter out what is important with regard to directives and legislation or just take the easy way out?

As a Minister I spent years travelling to Brussels. One is given a script to read on the plane journey and told that that is the line COREPER has adopted. That is how it happens. In the main, they are wonderful civil servants who are intellectually gifted and demonstrate great commitment to Europe. It is not good enough, however, that Members of the Oireachtas do not have an input into such matters before they are included in a directive. I am tired of seeing directives which have not come into being through the democratic process. The Council of Ministers is not open to the public, no matter how much we talk about democracy and the openness of the European parliamentary system. The Council of Ministers is a closed shop with a sign saying, Talking – Do Not Disturb. The talking is done by Ministers, mostly from a brief. People here are not aware that such important directives affecting their daily lives will be passed.

The work will be back-breaking and we will not all be suddenly enthused with European affairs. I agree with Senator Dardis that this Chamber should be a fulcrum for all matters European, be it receiving so-called important persons from Europe or the intense scrutiny of directives. Some Members complain about the discussion of issues such as turbary rights and special areas of conservation. I agree that we must look at the bigger picture – Europe – and study European integration. We must be generous to those who wish to come and have their say.