Gay Mitchell
Question:29 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his intended approach to closing the democratic deficit in relation to EU affairs. [26756/02]
Priority Questions. - EU Directives.
As recent experience has shown, if the European Union is to have the full confidence and support of its people it is vital that it be as accountable, transparent and accessible as possible. This is a question that needs to be addressed at both the European and the domestic level.
At home, the Government has responded clearly to public concerns through the establishment of the National Forum on Europe to encourage debate on EU issues and through the introduction on 1 July 2002 of a new system of Oireachtas scrutiny of the Government's approach to EU negotiations. The new scrutiny arrangements provide the Oireachtas with an opportunity both to be informed and to express a view on EU negotiations at every stage from the tabling of proposals through to their eventual adoption.
We have also instituted, in agreement with the Oireachtas, a system of meetings between Ministers and Oireachtas committees in advance of Council meetings. I have, for instance, met the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs on several occasions in recent months to brief the members and hear their views on issues arising on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. These meetings are now established as a valuable forum for dialogue on how the Government represents Ireland's interests in the European Union.
The question of how to bring Europe closer to its citizens, as Deputies will be aware, is also one of the key issues being addressed at the European Convention. It is a complex question requiring a multi-faceted response.
The convention is doing very important work on simplifying the Union's treaties, and legislative and procedural instruments, to make them more easily understood and accessible to the ordinary person. It also seeks to ensure that the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality are more meaningfully and effectively applied. The reports of the convention working groups on national parliaments and subsidiarity, for example, reflect a proposal tabled by Ireland and others to give national parliaments a role as subsidiarity watchdog, that is, to be in a position to have proposals reassessed if they do not properly respect the principle of subsidiarity.
We have also suggested that, without creating a new institution, national parliaments, together with members of the European Parliament, might be given a role in the election of the President of the European Commission. It remains to be seen if the necessary support for this proposal can be achieved. However, we believe that the election of the President of the Commission – on which the European Commission and Benelux countries have also recently tabled interesting ideas – offers an important opportunity to bring that institution closer to Europe's citizens.
We in Ireland are particularly well placed to understand and advance the case for greater openness and accountability in the conduct of Union business, in Brussels and at home. We will continue to work to advance and support effective measures which can contribute to bridging the divide between the citizen and the Union.
I acknowledge the work the Minister has done in taking the Labour Party's Bill through the Select Committee which had the co-operation of Fine Gael and other parties, in putting on a legislative footing the scrutiny powers and in being proactive in giving leadership to other Ministers by attending at committees. I express that because it is only fair and reasonable to do so. I hope the Minister will acknowledge that I have also tried to be fair and energetic in leading the Committee on European Affairs to do its business.
The Committee on European Affairs now has terms of reference and scrutiny powers. It has a scrutiny sub-committee and it has some seconded staff. It has a very interested and committed membership and staff and it has the vehicle, through the powers given under the European Union (Scrutiny) Bill which the Minister put through the House. Is the Minister aware that that vehicle needs a little more juice if it is to work?
In the near future there will be the scrutiny process, the enlargement and the Convention on the Future of Europe. There will be the ongoing forum, the intergovernmental conference which ultimately will come from the convention, the upcoming Presidency and a subsequent referendum. Taken with the concerns expressed at the convention and the forum about the democratic deficit, this indicates a major timetable for the House and its Committee on European Affairs in the two, three or four years ahead.
I expressed my appreciation of the Minister's assistance to date. I ask him to revisit the question of resources for the committee. We are not looking for the Taj Mahal. A hap'orth of tar could make this a very worthy ship. I ask the Minister to address that issue.
I acknowledge the sentiments that the Deputy, as Chairman of the committee, has expressed. On average, there are some 200 draft legislative proposals per year which are subject to Oireachtas scrutiny. A significant proportion of these proposals are technical in nature and of less significance and are unlikely to be referred for detailed scrutiny. For example, since 1 July last, the Committee on European Affairs scrutiny sub-committee has decided that 18 out of a total of 72 draft legislative proposals should be referred to nine sectoral committees for more detailed consideration. I am glad the scrutiny sub-committee is making those decisions and deciding what is of real importance to us because some of these proposals are not of immediate or direct relevance.
The Government is conscious that resources are required to implement the new scrutiny arrangements effectively. In the meantime, in order to assist the Oireachtas, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs each allocated an officer at assistant principal level to assist the sub-committee in its work. Another officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to act as a policy adviser to the Committee on European Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Oireachtas will shortly be in a position to make its own decisions on the allocation of resources when the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Bill, which is currently awaiting to proceed through Committee Stage in this House, is enacted. I hope when it is enacted everyone in this House will recognise that the statutory responsibility for the European Union business, which has been given to the committee to which the Deputy refers, is entitled to get particular consideration in the outcome of those deliberations.