Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP. I think the title is Deputy Kelly but Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP, sounds much better. His presentation was extremely interesting and shows the innovative and important work he is doing. He is also well recognised in Brussels, obviously because of the award he has been given. I had occasion to be there recently and everybody seems to know him. He is gaining a similar status in Brussels to that he has in Ireland, and he is certainly making an impact.

There are two issues I wish to raise, one of which has already been addressed by Mr. Kelly, which is that of scrutiny of European Union legislation by the Seanad. The reality is that Brussels and Strasbourg influence much of what we do here, yet there is a huge disconnect, as others have mentioned, including Senator Susan O'Keeffe. As I know he agrees with that proposition, I will not waste my time on that issue.

I wish to mention the co-location of the European Parliament. The financial and environmental costs of having two seats, one in Strasbourg and one in Brussels, strike me as extraordinary. It is estimated that it costs between €180 million and €250 million per year, as every month the Parliament must be moved lock, stock and barrel from Brussels to Strasbourg, with files, staff and Members of the European Parliament all being transferred at great expense, for the sake of a few days' work before moving back to Brussels, only to repeat it the following month. Does Mr. Kelly have a position on the issue? Perhaps we should move towards a one-chamber European Parliament. I commend him on his work and thank him for coming to the House.