Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I am delighted the Taoiseach has been able to come to the House to address us and to keep us up to date on developments at European Union level and, more important, on the work he and his counterparts, as Heads of State and Government, are doing to stabilise the euro and bring confidence back to the market to encourage a return to economic growth and the restoration of our economy. The European Council meeting last month was an important one for Ireland. As the Taoiseach stated the compact for growth and jobs, which was agreed on, was vitally needed and, more critically, the link between banking and sovereign debt, which has damaged us so badly over the past number of years, was broken decisively. For Ireland, this vital step represents an important breakthrough which can help us to recover and return to the markets. This outcome reflects the intensive efforts the Government has made since taking office to explain the situation regarding Ireland's legacy bank debt to our partners and to seek their support in engineering an outcome which can reduce the excessive burden on the Irish taxpayers. There is much work still to be done to implement the agreements. We should all, as politicians and citizens, be pleased with the significant progress that the Taoiseach has made on both fronts to date.

I come from Waterford and know first hand the benefits of targeted and focused investments and the unbelievable devastation caused by recession and unemployment. I know there will be many Waterfords across the European Union and that is why the Compact for Jobs and Growth adopted by the European Council last month with its immediate stimulus of a €120 billion investment package; agreements on measures to deepen the Single Market, particularly in the digital arena; and agreements to work on enhancing external trade links are ambitious and, I hope, achievable goals.

An issue that arises almost daily in the House is the crippling effect of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. I have seen the effects of unemployment in my city and that is why I am especially pleased that efforts to increase youth employment, with the objective that within a few months of leaving school young people should receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship, or a traineeship which can be supported by the ESF, was part of the agreement at the European Council.

It is my sincere hope that by the time Ireland undertakes the six month Presidency of the European Council on 1 January next year, the preparatory work on these efforts will be sufficiently advanced in order that we can bring our experience and skills to bear on driving them forward for our own good and that of our European partners. The forthcoming Presidency will be crucial in demonstrating Ireland's ability to manage the agenda of the EU in the light of the current difficult times. Some might call it the luck of the Irish or some might see it as Sod's law but in 2004 our Presidency of the Council coincided with the accession of ten new member states to the EU. On this occasion it will coincide with the 40th Anniversary of Ireland's accession to the EU. I have no doubt that the Taoiseach and his staff in the Department of the Taoiseach will manage the official and celebratory aspects of the Presidency with their usual skill and expertise and that always serves to showcase Ireland at its best when we are under the spotlight. I am sure that I can speak for most, if not all, in the House when I say that I am sure that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges will favourably consider a request by Government to assist in delivering a successful Presidency. Last July this Chamber was addressed by the then President of the European Parliament, Mr. Jerzy Buzek. His address was an enlightening and interesting one that brought the House closer to the European institutions.

One of the most unfortunate things to happen in Ireland in recent years is a distrust between the Irish electorate and the European Union due to a disconnect between the two. There is support in the House for us, as a group, to assist in the oversight of European driven legislation that must be adopted into Irish law. While new legislation proposals from the EU are dealt with by the Oireachtas Joint Committees there is a need for a more open debate on new proposals. Seanad Éireann could be better utilised by providing a forum to debate and scrutinise new legislative proposals that emanate from the European institutions. Many legislative and non-legislative proposals emanate from the European Commission filter through the European Parliament, the Commission and the European Council. Each national parliament has an eight week window in which to file an objection or an observation on the draft proposal and that gives little opportunity for a national parliament to influence policy.

Each November the European Commission sets out its agenda for the following year. For example, in 2012 the Commission has 129 items for discussion and formulation of policy. There is an ongoing discussion between the Commission and the member state Governments on legislative proposals but national parliaments only become involved at the end of the process. There is a need in Ireland, more than ever, to make the electorate aware of the work done at European level. An open debate on new proposals would help to make more information available to the general public. The proposal from Members of the Seanad is for two days a month to be set aside to deal exclusively with European Union draft legislation. In order to proceed with the proposal it would be necessary to allocate additional staff for a couple of days per month and I hope that the Taoiseach will support us in our efforts in that regard.

I understand that 2013 may be designated as the European Year of Citizens. It would present us with an opportunity to promote a discussion of Ireland's membership of the EU and its place in Europe, a debate that we need to have at national and local levels. It also presents an opportunity to consider what it means to be a citizen of the European Union in the 21st century and to reflect on how best we can address the concerns of all of our citizens.

It would be remiss of me not to raise another issue. Recently, we passed a resolution calling for the future of the House to be discussed at the constitutional convention and I outlined the Government's position to the House at the time. Perhaps the Taoiseach might clarify the situation. We have had a good 14 months in the 24th Seanad.