Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 3

Written Answers. - EC Treaty Provisions.

John Bruton

Question:

13 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views in regard to the provisions of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community concerning the powers of the European Parliament in regard to (a) co-decision and co-operation with the European Council (b) the setting up of Committees of Inquiry (c) the appointment of an Ombudsman and (d) the introduction of a uniform procedure for elections to the European Parliaments in all member states.

Nora Owen

Question:

24 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the Dutch Presidency proposals to the Intergovernmental Conference on European Political Union in relation to measures to increase the powers of the European Parliament.

Madeleine Taylor-Quinn

Question:

36 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the establishment of an elected European Senate, similar to the US Senate, so as to ensure that small and peripheral EC States like Ireland have adequate representations in the parliamentary arm of EC institutions.

Nuala Fennell

Question:

45 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views in regard to the provisions of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community concerning the powers of the European Parliament in regard to (a) co-decision and co-operation with the European Council (b) the setting up of Committees of Inquiry (c) the appointment of an Ombudsman and (d) the introduction of a uniform procedure for elections to the European Parliaments in all member states.

Ivan Yates

Question:

78 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the establishment of an elected European Senate, similar to the US Senate, so as to ensure that small and peripheral EC States like Ireland have adequate representations in the parliamentary arm of EC institutions.

Michael Noonan

Question:

83 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views in regard to the provisions of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community concerning the powers of the European Parliament in regard to (a) co-decision and co-operation with the European Council (b) the setting up of Committees of Inquiry (c) the appointment of an Ombudsman and (d) the introduction of a uniform procedure for elections to the European Parliaments in all member states.

Tom Enright

Question:

103 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views in regard to the provisions of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community concerning the powers of the European Parliament in regard to (a) co-decision and co-operation with the European Council (b) the setting up of Committees of Inquiry (c) the appointment of an Ombudsman and (d) the introduction of a uniform procedure for elections to the European Parliaments in all member states.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

105 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the establishment of an elected European Senate, similar to the US Senate, so as to ensure that small and peripheral EC States like Ireland have adequate representations in the parliamentary arm of EC institutions.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

110 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the establishment of an elected European Senate, similar to the US Senate, so as to ensure that small and peripheral EC States like Ireland have adequate representations in the parliamentary arm of EC institutions.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 24, 36, 45, 78, 83, 103, 105, and 110 together since these questions relate to similar issues.

No proposal for an elected European Senate has been presented to the Inter-governmental Conference on Political Union. If such a proposal were made, we would consider its implications carefully.

The question of the democratic legitimacy of the future European Union has been one of the central concerns of the member states since the beginning of the present negotiations in the Inter-governmental Conference. The role of the European Parliament in the decision taking process has, quite rightly, been a major aspect of the negotiations. Ireland has recognised this and we have participated fully in the negotiations on a package of measures which we believe will allow the Parliament to play a greater role in the development of the Community and in the protection of the interests of its citizens.

We have therefore been prepared to agree to the formalisation of the Parliament's rights of inquiry and petition. We are also prepared to agree to Treaty language which will give Parliament the right to confirm the appointment of the Commission as a body. We have also welcomed the proposal to establish a Community ombudsman empowered to receive complaints from any citizen of the Union. We are also agreeable to giving the Parliament the right of assent in the adoption of a uniform procedure for elections to the European Parliament in all member states.

The negotiations on the possibility of giving the Parliament a right of co-decision with the Council in the legislative process have proved the most difficult aspect of the negotiations in this area. At present negotiations are continuing on the mechanisms and scope of such a procedure and there is still some work to be done before an overall solution will emerge. Ireland is prepared to consider as part of the final and overall package a procedure which will permit a greater involvement by the European Parliament in decision making.