Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome that Senator Alex white raised the matter because it reinforces the powers the national Parliament will have in this regard. As the Minister of State has said the matter should be addressed in the scrutiny legislation. It is great to have that extra power and it gives us all more responsibility. Whenever legislation is proposed in Europe we will be conscious of the scrutiny that it will receive not alone in the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny but also in this House. I welcome that we can have debates in this House to analyse and scrutinise such proposals. It is no harm to highlight the matter as it gives the public reassurance regarding the power we have as a result of this treaty.