Committee considers role of National Parliaments in EU system

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs today met with Dr Gavin Barrett to discuss the role of National Parliaments in European Union Affairs.

A senior lecturer specialising in European law in UCD, Dr Barrett is the second recipient of the Oireachtas Parliamentary Fellowship, which was established in 2009 to mark the 90th anniversary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann. The fellowship is designed to advance the study of the Houses of the Oireachtas and Dr Barrett has been investigating the evolving role of the Oireachtas in European Affairs.

Vice-Chairman of the Committee Paschal Donohoe TD says: “Today’s meeting was a valuable opportunity to explore the influence of National Parliaments in the European Union policymaking process. The Committee takes on board Dr Barrett’s view that engagement of parliamentarians in EU Affairs is highly important but does not necessarily ensure electoral reward.

“In an insightful contribution, Dr Barrett pointed out that national parliaments had to prioritise areas of engagement on European issues. Our parliamentary system had to balance resources and time between engagement with Government Ministers in advance of meetings in Brussels, oversight of the subsidiarity principle, dialogue with the European institutions and connecting with the public.

“More space is undoubtedly required within our parliament to properly debate the future shape of the European Union. In the midst of this current unprecedented crisis for the European Union, we agree with Dr Barrett that our Committee has a leading role in ensuring issues such as the sustainability of the euro and any future fiscal union are appropriately debated.”  

Follow the EU Affairs Committee Facebook page. 

ENDS

For further information please contact:  
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353  87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Mick Wallace, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly