Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 2

Written Answers. - Conference of European Parliaments.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

12 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's position on the concluding document of the Congress of Parliaments of member states of the EC, held in Rome in November 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The question of the roles of the European Parliament and of the national parliaments is one of the central issues now arising for the Community, which, in committing itself to political union at the European Council meeting in Dublin on 28 April last year, took as one of its aims the strengthening of the democratic legitimacy of the union. We, therefore, welcome the initiative taken by the European Parliament to convene the Conference of European Parliaments which met in Rome at the end of November 1990.

The Government have noted the conclusions of the Rome meeting and they will, I am sure, be a useful contribution to further consideration of this important matter in the Intergovernmental Conference on Political Union.