Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

It has long been accepted that the weakest link in the European institutions has been the European Parliament. Whatever one's position in respect of the postponement decision taken today by the EU Parliament concerning the new Commission, we would all accept that this is a good day for the Parliament. At the very least, parliamentarians have shown their strength and resolve in standing up to the Commission and the Council of Ministers and doing so in a way which demands that we pay respect to the European Parliament. At some point in the future, we should debate the particular crisis in which the EU finds itself at present. Given the fact that the new constitution will be formally signed and ratified this weekend, a debate at some stage over the coming weeks would be opportune. I thought the common sense shown by the President of the EU Commission, Mr. Barroso, in his decision today to postpone the vote is the type of common sense that he will have to show going forward. I welcome the fact that he, rather than the European Parliament, blinked today.

As the Leader knows, this House was the first to debate the issue of co-habiting couples and how we can provide protection for people in such relationships. Bishop Walsh of Killaloe made a number of interesting comments yesterday on this area. These comments were generous, forthright and reflected the kind of reality that exists in modern Ireland. Given the fact that Senator Terry has produced a position paper on behalf of our party and that there is impending legislation from Senator Norris, does the Leader agree a useful way to proceed would be to establish a standing committee of the House under Standing Order 98, which would allow us to progress the matter, develop a Green Paper and see exactly what consensus can be reached in this area? This is a particular area of work in which this House has expertise. It has shown initiative and can lead on this matter. I ask the Leader to consider my proposal that we establish a standing all-party committee of the House which would allow us to develop a Green Paper on this issue.