JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS (Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny) debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 2005

Business of Sub-Committee.

Chairman

We now come to the minutes of the previous meeting. The minutes of the meeting of 9 March 2005 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Regarding reports of previous meetings, the draft 42 and 43 reports of the sub-committee were circulated. I propose that the reports as circulated be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Is that agreed? Agreed.

On correspondence, it is proposed that further information regarding COM (2004) 675 as requested by the sub-committee at its meeting of 27 January 2005 be noted.

Senator Dardis

Perhaps we could ask the clerk to write to the Department to convey our thanks to Mr. McCann for this. It is something we have asked for frequently and it is a model in terms of answering the questions raised in being concise and easily read. The official in question should be thanked by the committee for the response we have been given.

Chairman

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Under Any Other Business, the National Forum on Europe has asked whether two or three members of our sub-committee would like to participate at its next meeting which will take place on 7 April at 11 a.m. in Dublin Castle. The subject of this meeting is how can national parliaments have a say. Scrutiny is one of the issues that will be dealt with at the meeting. The forum has indicated that members will not be at the round table but will be in a position to contribute if they so wish. Is anybody interested in attending?

Senator Dardis

Some of us are members or alternates at the forum in any case. If we are to pick people to attend, it would be preferable to pick people who are not directly involved in the forum.

Chairman

Senator Dardis and I are members.

Senator Dardis

Deputy Sexton is also a member and I understand Deputy Mulcahy is a member. Nominees might be drawn from the wider committee.

Chairman

We can do that. It is proposed that the next meeting take place on Thursday, 14 April at 9.30 a.m. Is that agreed?

Senator Dardis

If the committee is short of bodies, we can go to the forum as members of the committee rather than as members of the forum. If possible, we should try to send people who are not members of the forum.

Chairman

I am not sure whether I will be there that day. For the information of the committee, our next meeting does not clash with the meeting of the National Forum on Europe which is scheduled to take place on 21 April. Is that agreed? Agreed. I thank the committee for its co-operation.

The sub-committee adjourned at 10.05 p.m. until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 14 April 2005.