Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

In advance of a final solution to the Northern Ireland problem, I do not believe we should indulge in this.

The Lisbon treaty provides for a Sixth Stage in the processing of legislation which will see draft legislation kicked back to national Parliaments. Therein lies the biggest value in terms of what Seanad Éireann can do for the future. So often Members have expressed frustration that we only rubber-stamp European directives. However, under the Lisbon treaty, we will have an opportunity to take a view on them. For two days each week it should be the exclusive role of the Seanad to scrutinise EU legislation. Only today I called for a debate on the draft legislative package on financial regulatory reform, an important issue. These are the debates in which we should be getting involved and taking an informed view. This would assist in bringing the public closer to this institution of State and assist us as a nation take a more informed view of proposed EU legislation in order that our Ministers, including the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, and others, when they attend the Council of Ministers can reflect an Irish opinion as debated in the Seanad having listened to various interest groups.