A draft copy of the report on the visit to the meeting of the EEA and EFTA conference has been circulated to members. Senator Lydon represented the committee at the conference.
Report on EEA and EFTA Conference in Iceland: Presentation.
I had the honour of representing the committee at the conference and it is important to report back to the committee on some of the issues explored by the participants.
The European economic area agreement covers the member states of the European Union and the European free trade agreement states. Four countries in EFTA, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, are outside the European Union, and Switzerland, while it is an EFTA state, does not participate in the European economic area agreement following a negative referendum result on entry. It has, however, made a number of bilateral agreements with the EU.
The agreement is undoubtedly beneficial to the EU states as well as to the EFTA states, including Ireland, because it enlarges the Single Market into three wealthy and economically compatible countries. The conference was an opportunity on the tenth anniversary of the implementation of this successful agreement to take stock and reflect on the options for the future. The report outlines some of the main points raised.
The EFTA countries do not have a system for scrutiny of EU legislation similar to ours. A number of Swiss parliamentarians stated they were happy to reap the benefits, but their ability to influence the direction of the market is limited. They are legislative bystanders. While they are obliged to implement the legislation relating to the four freedoms of goods, services, people and capital, they are not represented at the European institutions for various reasons, one example being the Common Fisheries Policy. Having heard some of the issues raised at the conference, it shows how beneficial EU membership is to Ireland and how important it is to participate in its future, rather than being on the outside like the EFTA countries. I believe that most of the EFTA countries will join the EU in the future but they are doing well economically at the moment. If Iceland wished to join the EU, there would be many difficulties with the Common Fisheries Policy. On a different level Iceland may integrate very well because 50% of its women and 30% of its men have Irish genes. Considering only a few monks went there in the first place, it must have been an active time to create these gene pools. I thank Mr. Myles Geiran who accompanied me on the mission. He compiled a good report and is a good man to travel with. My only complaint with him is that as he does not believe in using taxis, on the two days we were in Iceland I walked 600 miles.
I thank Senator Lydon and compliment the report by Mr. Myles Geiran. It is important that we get reports like this. It is not essential for every conference but this was an important one. I have no doubt that Senator Lydon and Mr. Myles Geiran worked extremely hard throughout it and had no time to bathe themselves in Icelandic hot waters.
The Deputy could end up in hot water for saying that.
Yes, I could.
Is it agreed to lay the report before both Houses? Agreed.