Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Andrews for that summary. I will make a few general remarks by way of conclusion.

First, I thank each MEP for being in the Seanad today, for making the effort and for preparing contributions. We, above all audiences they will have, appreciate what their lifestyle is like. Even at that we do not know how difficult it is to travel all the time. We very much appreciate the fact they made the effort to be here, to prepare and to engage so fully. That is not taken for granted and should not be. It is important that is acknowledged because this process could not work if they ignored it. We appreciate it.

It has been remarked on by colleagues earlier, and I am not being patronising when I say, that we are extraordinarily blessed with the calibre of people we have representing us in Europe. The performance of the three MEPs today, the acknowledgement of minutiae within Europe and knowledge of the entire workings of the Parliament and potential areas in climate justice etc. is incredibly good. Dublin is very fortunate to be represented by MEPs of their calibre.

The Cathaoirleach and I, with the excellent administrative staff here in the House, have been trying over the past year or two to implement elements of Seanad reform. A very important element of that is engagement with the European Parliament and establishing that linkage. We look to scrutinising secondary legislation in the future, but the engagement with the MEPs is a very important part of it. There was a level of apprehension that we might not make a success of it on the basis the MEPs might not be fit to be here and we might not have adequate participation. The contrary has been the case. It has been an outstanding success. I really appreciate that. It is one important leg of Seanad reform. The merit and benefit of this is very clear. Even on a purely functional or practical level, a number of initiatives or matters raised by the MEPs in the discussion have been highly informative for public representatives in the House to bring back to local authorities, parliamentary parties and Departments. That information has been vital.

I agree with Mr. Andrews, who concluded by saying we should have a two-way process here. It is very important that Members of the Dáil and Seanad would visit Europe regularly; at least once a year if not twice. We need that level of engagement. If it cannot be funded by any public bodies, we should do it of our own initiative. I am certainly happy to do that and I think colleagues would be too. We need to inform ourselves, to have that linkage, and to know what the MEPs are doing and the potential in it for what we are doing. It is a very important linkage and that is very clearly established.

Today has been an unambiguous and unquestionable success and I am delighted with it, as I am with the inputs from the MEPs and the responses in the House.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom ár mbuíochas a ghabháil libh. Táimid an-buíoch daoibh as ucht na ráitis, an comhrá agus na freagraí iontacha, speisiúla agus eolasacha a bhí agaibh chomh maith.