Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Seanad, I thank Commissioner Hogan for his address and very constructive engagement and plain talk in the House. It is very important the level of interaction between national parliaments and the EU institutions continues and deepens. Our committees have become progressively more engaged with EU legislation and do very useful work in this respect. Lisbon treaty arrangements providing for greater interaction between national parliaments and the European Parliament are also bedding down very well. That said, high profile encounters such as today’s address, give a more public expression to the commitment on the part of Commissioner Hogan and President Jean-Claude Juncker to deepening the dialogue. As chairman of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, I thank the Commissioner for his kind comments on the committee’s report on farm safety, which we published recently following a very good interaction with a wide range of farming related organisations.

I suggest the Commissioner throw a glance at the plight of the Irish greyhound industry. I am sure he will remember a special sporting event during which an affable Kerryman and friend of both of us said we had to be careful when the bunny was running and place our bets. The bunny could be trapped regarding the Irish greyhound industry. As a nominee to the Seanad of the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation, it would be remiss of me not to mention that important moment.