Seanad debates
Thursday, 6 November 2003
European Communities (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage.
Specifically, I favour an overarching role for the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs in organising the State and the private sector with our ambassadors to schedule a programme of activities. Such a programme would act as a catalyst to pull together what seems at present to be ad hoc arrangements. Currently, individual companies are identifying opportunities and acting on them, but Ireland incorporated should adopt an overarching role in that regard. The Minister of State's office is the obvious choice to oversee the process. The Minister of State might not welcome another job on top of the many he already performs, especially not in the first six months of next year when he will be very busy. While his office appears to be the obvious candidate, perhaps the Minister of State has a different view on the matter.
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