Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like other Members, I extend a welcome to Ms Harkin, MEP, to the Seanad. As a constituent of hers, I see at first hand all the important work she is doing and I get feedback about it from the community and voluntary sector. I am very heartened that we have such an elected representative in the European Parliament.

Sometimes debating in the Seanad can be marked by frustration. We are all aware it is up for abolition. For many, its role is often seen as little more than a consultative body that is rarely heard. Despite the hard work many Senators do, the public does not see the merit of the work done in the Chamber. Ms Harkin referred to the difference between being a representative in the Oireachtas and in the European Parliament, in that there is no government or opposition in the latter, allowing a Member to influence outcomes. That is not possible in the Oireachtas.

Many Senators have mentioned that recent treaty changes have significantly increased the decision-making powers of the European Parliament. However, we would hardly realise that in scanning the newspapers, as the European Parliament rarely features in public debate. Ms Harkin has pointed out that the European Parliament does matter and alluded to the directive on electromagnetic fields and MRI scans. I am concerned that we need to communicate this to the people. The electromagnetic field issue was a significant one and if agreement had not been reached, we would not be able to carry out MRI scans. How do we let people know how important the European Parliament is and how does Ms Harkin, as an MEP, communicate this to them

Professor Brigid Laffan of UCD often talks about Communicating Europe not being a problem. Ms Harkin, as an MEP, is doing high-level work, but how does she communicate the importance of that work to people here when they do not see any evidence of it? The communication problem is not just the lack of reporting on this work in the media, it is also a problem for the Oireachtas. While scrutiny of European directives and regulations has increased across the Oireachtas committees, other legislative issues and constituency work take up the time of Members. While some committees deal with at least 15 pieces of proposed legislation, this can happen with very few committee members in attendance and no media presence. The media might not even pick up on an issue unless it was something topical. That is the reason there is so little knowledge of and debate on draft legislation when it is passed in Brussels or Strasbourg, despite the fact that it will have a profound effect on citizens. Given that much of the legislation enacted in the Oireachtas has its genesis in EU legislation, I do not believe the level of political and public scrutiny is acceptable.

The purpose of this debate is to highlight the role of the Seanad and show how it and the European Parliament can work together. Ms Harkin has mentioned that Deputies are often busy with legislation and constituency work and described the role she thinks the Seanad should play. Senator Marc MacSharry has pointed out that we do not know what is going to happen with regard to the Seanad in the future or how, if it continues, Members will be elected. If we had a Seanad, the role of which involved greater oversight of EU legislation, how does Ms Harkin think we could ensure Senators with an eye on a seat in the Lower House would keep EU issues at the heart of debate in the Seanad? It is important that if we enhance the role of the Seanad, we ensure that role is given priority and that Senators are not pulled away on other issues. What is Ms Harkin's view?

Ms Harkin has mentioned the Leader programme and the community-led local development, CLLD, model and that such alignment proposals are coming down the track. We are all aware that the current Leader model has been admired at European level and that MEPs see at first hand the esteem there is in the European Union for the Irish model. However, when proposals are made to change the model, do our MEPs lobby for the retention of the current model which they hear on a daily basis is so important?

With regard to the constitutional convention, has Ms Harkin submitted proposals on reform to it or on what she believes the scrutiny of European Union proposals should involve?