EU Affairs Committee to consider evolving Economic and Monetary Union with leading economists

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will tomorrow afternoon meet with NUIG economists Prof John McHale and Dr Alan Ahearne to discuss the likely future course of Economic and Monetary Union and the implications for Ireland.

22 April 2013  

Prof John McHale is Head of Economics at the NUIG and Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council while Alan Ahearne is a Member of the Commission of the Central Bank of Ireland and served as former Special Advisor to the former Minister for Finance, the late Brian Lenihan from 2009 to 2011. Issues around increased fiscal surveillance and moves towards banking union are likely to be explored at tomorrow’s meeting.

Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD said: “At a meeting with economists in February, our Committee heard that, while economic and monetary policy comprises a relatively small component of text of the EU’s Treaties, it is having a major influence in an evolving European Union. It was also widely acknowledged that Economic and Monetary Union has had major flaws in its construction, which are now being addressed.

“With the discussions on closer integration advancing at European Union level, tomorrow’s meeting is a timely opportunity to engage with two distinguished economists on what EU monetary and fiscal policy is most appropriate to foster the employment and growth that is so badly needed across the Eurozone and the wider EU. The debate tomorrow is also likely to concentrate on how a more durable EMU can be created, while ensuring that national parliaments retain a key role in democratic accountability and legitimacy in this integration process.”

The meeting takes place at 2 pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000 tomorrow 23 April 2013. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

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Call for Submissions: The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs is leading a national debate on Ireland and the future of the European Union. As part of this process, the Committee is inviting submissions from individual members of the public and organisations on the future of the European Union and Ireland’s role in that Union. Read more and make a submission. 

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)
Seán Crowe, TD
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD

Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly