JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2005

Business of Joint Committee.

Vice-Chairman

It is proposed to defer the minutes of the meeting of 2 February until the next meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Under correspondence, these are items received by the joint committee and circulated since the last meeting. The first item is correspondence received from the Parliament of Finland regarding a seminar in April on the implementation of Europe's northern dimension. It is not proposed that any member should attend this conference. It is proposed that the convenors inform the secretary if anybody is interested. Is it agreed that we will not send anybody to the seminar? Agreed.

The second item is from the European Commission enclosing a preliminary programme for a European forum on science in society in Brussels between 9 and 11 March. It is not proposed that a member attend. It is proposed that we send this item to the Joint Committee on Education and Science for its information. Is that agreed? Agreed.

There is a letter from Mr. Brian Earls of the Irish Embassy in Turkey, who looked after us so well when a number of members visited that country a few months ago. It is proposed to note this correspondence. The clerk has informed the Embassy in Ankara that it will be kept informed of all arrangements made regarding that. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The final item of correspondence is an invitation to a parliamentary meeting on the Lisbon strategy in Brussels on St. Patrick's Day. Does any member wish to attend?

Proinsias De Rossa, MEP

It is on 16 and 17 March, according to the correspondence available to me.

Vice-Chairman

Yes. The bulk of the business probably will be done on 17 March.

Proinsias De Rossa, MEP

Yes. The timing of this is unfortunate. I had nothing to do with it. This is one of the initiatives the European Parliament is anxious to develop whereby there would be interaction between the Parliament and the national parliaments. Six representatives are invited to participate from each national parliament, 150 parliamentarians in all.

The Lisbon strategy, as was mentioned, is being used to develop growth and so on in the European Union. I will not go into the various political pros and cons of that. Without the participation of national parliaments in the Lisbon strategy, it simply will not work. The European Parliament also has a role. I urge that there be some uptake by Members of the Dáil in this regard.

Vice-Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, I propose we raise this item of correspondence at the next meeting and that, on Proinsias De Rossa's recommendation, we will endeavour to get members to represent our Parliament at that meeting. It seems it would look bad if we were not represented.

Proinsias De Rossa, MEP

There may be some footloose members who would like to spend a few days in Brussels, to visit Bruges and so on.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh

I note the majority of the items on the agenda will be dealt with on 16 March, as set out in the draft programme.

Vice-Chairman

We will raise this matter at next week's meeting, if that is agreeable. Is there any other business? As there is nothing further arising, we will go into private session.

The joint committee went into private session at 4.12 p.m. and adjourned at 4.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 16 February 2005.