Ms Scallon, MEP:

A Leas-Chathaoirligh, Members of the Seanad and Leader of the House, I am delighted to be with you. I thank you for the opportunity to meet and to share with you some of my experiences in the European Parliament. This is an important initiative. Many of us in the Parliament have wished we could have had this opportunity more frequently. I hope it will be the beginning of a regular exchange of ideas. For maybe too long there has not been sufficient communication between Europe and Members of the Oireachtas. Members of the Oireachtas will sometimes find regulations presented to them for consideration which we have been discussing for two years or more in Europe, when they must then face the music on their doorsteps.

Ms Scallon, MEP:

I am new to politics. After I first dipped my political toe in the water I was welcomed to the Seanad. I recall that day well. It meant a great deal to me. It is a great honour to be here today. I am a member of the largest grouping in the Parliament. I knew that as an Independent Member it would be important to have the clout of a big grouping and so I joined the European People's Party, which is basically a centre-right group. I am the first independent MEP to be accepted into the group. It means I have access to committees and to speaking time. Otherwise, as a lone Independent Member, it would be difficult.

Ms Scallon, MEP:

I enjoy the work in the European Parliament. The problems we face here on a national level are generally reflected in every country. One is able to find alliances and support for issues that are important to one's constituents from diverse areas. It is extremely important not to be caught in one political corner and so I have close colleagues from the Socialist and Green groupings and even one in the Communist grouping. We are all struggling to try to support the needs of our constituents. That support must be sought on many different levels and on diverse subjects.