Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

Like Senator Regan, I have no problem in welcoming this proposal. It is good to see a network that is common to all of Europe. Historically in civil, commercial and contract laws we come from a common law background whereas the law in most of Europe is based on the Napoleonic code. I have one question on contact points. Has it been established which contact points will be used here? Is there a central contact point? Will the Courts Service, the Bar Council of Ireland, the Law Society of Ireland and possibly even the Judiciary have individual contact points or will there be a central contact point covering all of them?

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As far as I am concerned we are pushing an open door on this matter. I concur with my colleague. More often than not these types of issues are brought before us without debate. Some issues that come before both Houses have greater merit for debate than this one, which seems an innocuous proposal. However, one of the reasons the Lisbon treaty referendum was rejected is that there is a general perception on the streets that we are dictated to by Europe and more often than not we do not know what is coming down the track or what is agreed or not agreed. While many directives and proposals come before both Houses that are passed through on the nod and agreed without debate, greater scrutiny of those could take place in the future.

Once my question about contact points is clarified, I will fully support the proposal.