Seanad debates
Tuesday, 4 March 2003
Convention on the Future of Europe: Statements.
I wish to ask the Minister of State to pursue one issue in regard to secrecy. During the term of the previous Government, I was a member of the Joint Committee on European Affairs. It was a very enjoyable and interesting committee and I hope I was an active member. One of the lowest points for the committee came about due to a proposed meeting with Javier Solana, who had been recently appointed to the position of High Representative for common foreign and security policy. He would only meet us on condition that the meeting was in private. We refused and no meeting took place. I do not have a problem if there is a reason for that sort of thing. In principle, a European High Representative should come to meet the committee of a national parliament to discuss European business. We do not have huge secrets at European level and I believe that it is fundamentally wrong that he insisted that the meeting be held in private.
No comments