Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the need for new political guidance at EU and national levels in relation to making the EU an efficient economy; his views on whether there is a role for Members of Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament to oversee the Irish approach to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9098/05]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the co-ordination arrangements he proposes to put in place to implement the Lisbon strategy as agreed at the recent meeting of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12846/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 102 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, the Taoiseach and I reported to the Dáil on 13 April 2005 on the outcome of the spring European Council held on 22-23 March 2005, at which the mid-term review of the Lisbon Agenda was the main item on the agenda. The European Council committed itself to re-launching the Lisbon Agenda as a "partnership for growth and employment". While it was decided to focus on two urgent priorities — growth and employment — the European Council also endorsed action in the complementary areas of promoting social cohesion and sustainable development.

In order to better contribute to increased growth and employment, the European Council agreed new arrangements for a simplified and more streamlined approach to delivery. This approach, which Ireland supported, will be based on new national reform programmes and single annual reports replacing the current system of individual reports in each area. Integrated guidelines for growth and jobs, merging the existing broad economic policy guidelines and employment guidelines, will be adopted and member states will submit three year national reform programmes, with the first such programmes due this autumn.

The national programmes will indicate the specific measures which member states intend to take to support growth and employment at national level. The new format will be flexible enough to enable each member state to focus on and deliver its own key priorities in accordance with national administrative arrangements. We are at an early stage in the process of preparing our first national reform programme and additional guidance on practical arrangements is awaited from the European Commission.

The European Council conclusions also stressed the importance of enhancing internal national co-ordination of the Lisbon Agenda. In this regard, consideration is being given by the Government to the existing co-ordination arrangements to progress the agenda. While responsibility for implementing individual elements lies with relevant Ministers and Departments, the Department of the Taoiseach has overall responsibility for co-ordinating Ireland's approach.

Arrangements for consultation with the Oireachtas as well as with other stakeholders on our national reform programme are being worked out and such consultations will take place over the coming months. The role of the European Parliament with regard to the Lisbon Agenda is, of course, principally at the European level. Deputies will be aware, however, of the arrangements for Irish members of the European Parliament to participate in the work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs.