Vol. 408 No. 5
47 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the co-operation procedure with the European Parliament operated by the Council of Ministers should be extended into new areas, in the context of the current revisions by the inter-governmental conferences of the treaties governing the EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The future role of the European Parliament in the legislative process of the Community is one of the key issues in the Inter-governmental Conference on Political Union. Ireland is prepared to consider changes which would enhance the Parliament's powers in the legislative field. In this connection, the extension of the co-operation procedure into new areas of Community activity such as health, education and culture is something that we could consider favourably.
