Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is tráthnóna speisialta agus an-tábhachtach an tráthnóna seo. Táimid ag plé le cúrsaí Eorpacha, rudaí atá riachtanach, an-réalaíoch agus an-tábhachtach dúinn go léir ag an mbomaite. Tá deacrachtaí faoi leith againn san Eoraip anois. Tá siad ag cur isteach ar gach rud agus tá díomá, eagla agus faitíos orainn mar gheall orthu. Beidh muid ag plé na rudaí sin níos déanaí.

I welcome our distinguished MEPs - Mr. Billy Kelleher, MEP, Ms Grace O'Sullivan, MEP, and Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP - to the Chamber. We are honoured to have them and are delighted that they recognise the importance of this forum and connection. We are conscious of how busy they are and how difficult it is to fit everything into their schedules. As such, their presence is appreciated and we will try to honour it with the quality of inputs from our Members. I have no doubt that the MEPs will be impressed by that.I welcome my colleagues who are here in great numbers. Their engagement with this process is appreciated. From the outset, An Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, has energetically embarked on a programme of Seanad reform. Central to that is the engagement with the European Parliament through our MEPs and the European institutions. I have worked with An Cathaoirleach and our excellent administrative team specifically on this European project. By agreement, I have taken a particularly active and lead role in this important project and I take that very serious, as does An Cathaoirleach and Members, as evidenced by their attendance today.

There will be further stages of this process and further meetings with our MEPs on specific topics and themed evenings etc. That is all to come, as was suggested by our distinguished colleague, Senator Boyhan. There will also be an involvement by the Seanad in the scrutiny of EU legislation. It is important that as part of Seanad reform and making the Seanad more relevant to contemporary times etc. that we get that link between us and Europe very clearly delineated, established and organic such that it is going on all of the time. Over 60% of legislative decisions that impact on the lives of people in Ireland, how we live and so on, come directly from Europe in the form of directives, regulations and recommendations. There is an extraordinarily close link and a real relevance of Europe which is often missed by some people. European legislation is very impactful in this country. It affects our daily lives and we should be very conscious of that. It is great that the Eurobarometer polls show a strong positivity towards Europe in Ireland. The polls also reflect a lack of knowledge about Europe. It is hoped this engagement will form part of bridging that gap and the establishment of a link between this important Chamber of a bicameral Parliament with the European Parliament.

We will now move to the business of the evening. I propose to call the MEPs in alphabetical order, which is purely an objective process. The entire evening is based on fair procedures, we hope. The first person to address us is Billy Kelleher, MEP, whom we are delighted to have here with us again. He is making a significant impact in Europe. Mr. Kelleher has six minutes to make his address.