JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Wednesday, 25 Feb 1998

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

I omitted to extend apologies from Deputy Kirk, Mr. Pat Cox MEP and Mr. Alan Gillis MEP. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 3 March at 3 p.m. in the Seanad Chamber where we will meet the President of the European Parliament. All Members are requested to be in attendance at 2.55 p.m. It is important that we have a full attendance.

Regarding correspondence on the work programme from Deputy Gregory and Senator Brendan Ryan, the committee will need to proceed rapidly with its work programme. With your agreement, I propose to accelerate it over the next few weeks, keeping in mind the need to meet on a fortnightly basis and the need to come to grips with the various bodies we have identified as constituent bodies in the context of the reports. The Houses of the Oireachtas will require and expect these reports.

Deputy G. Mitchell

There is a note about the preliminary work of the rapporteurs on drugs policy. The rapporteurs comprise a triumvirate of Deputy Gregory, Senator Brendan Ryan and Deputy Pat Carey. What is the position with rapporteurs regarding compiling reports?

Chairman

The situation is as previously reported. Legislation will have to be prepared and passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the implementation of the system. The speed with which that is done will depend on the Government's legislative programme. We presume it will fall into place and on that basis we are trying to superimpose a structure whereby those who put themselves forward as rapporteurs will undertake the work. When the back-up system comes on stream all will directly benefit. The views of the various groups we will meet will be taken into account and these will be reflected in the compilation of the reports.

EMU, the Amsterdam Treaty, enlargement and the CAP are some of the issues which we must work on rapidly and simultaneously. The President of the European Parliament has views on the issues that directly affect us. It is expected that we will consider his views and he will consider ours. There will be others. For example, some time ago I met a senior established European politician who is involved in the European scene. His views were very interesting. We need to take into account the opinions of such people, who have different perspectives on issues.

The Joint Committee adjourned at 3.20 p.m.