JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2007

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

The first item on the agenda is the Chairman's report on informal meetings. On 16 November I met Mr. Stewart Woods, special adviser to the British Prime Minister, and the British ambassador to discuss issues of common interest. A note to this effect has been circulated.

The joint committee has received an invitation to visit Iran following a visit to Ireland by the Iranian ambassador. This is an interesting item in the context of the price of oil, energy, EU-Iranian relations and so on and members may wish to take up the offer. We will return to the matter at a later date.

A delegation from the National Parliament of Serbia is due to attend the meeting shortly. We will then meet the Bulgarian delegation.

No. 4 on the agenda relates to the European Commission Green and White Papers in respect of a number of issues dealt with prior to formation of the committee and following the general election. The Green Papers are entitled, Adapting to Climate Change in Europe — Options for EU Action, and A Future Common European Asylum System. The White Papers are entitled, A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity Related Health Issues. This problem is very common nowadays. I hope it is not tilting at me in that I could do with slimming. There is also a related White Paper on sport. Members still have time to make submissions on the white and green papers. With the agreement of members, I propose to ask the consultant to draw up a response to each of the four papers in case members may want to make a submission on the relevant issues. Members may be anxious to make submissions in the meantime and we will be delighted to have them. Do members wish to comment?

Deputy Billy Timmins

The Chairman will appreciate that it will take some time to go through the document of several hundred pages that was circulated to us. Before the consultant makes the submission, is it possible that he would prepare a breakdown of the main points so that members could be circulated with a brief note on the issues?

Chairman

We will do so. Yes, we have a note of that.

Deputy Joe Costello

I note that the time for responding to items in the Green Paper has passed, but we have until 30 November 2007 to respond to the Green Paper, Adapting to Climate Change in Europe — Options for EU Action. That is a major element of the new reform treaty in terms of the European Union trying to establish world leadership in this priority area.

It would be worth our while to explore what we might be able to do in terms of identifying the strategies, research and funding required and whether sufficient resources are being directed at sustainable development, innovation and so on. There is a reference to integration of research results. I am not sure if we are just talking about integration of research results as I think we need focused research if we are to provide innovative alternatives to the use of fossil fuels and the new short-term solutions such as biofuels. We have to look at the long term as well. That would require significant time.

We should also spend time examining the common European asylum system, which has already been discussed across a number of portfolios. I remember it was a major issue at the justice committee to see if we could put together a common structure that all 27 countries could sign up to. At present it is entirely individualistic and as a result each country tries to deal with the situation as best it can but. However, it is impossible to deal with it properly in a disjointed fashion as it requires a common approach. I believe these major issues deserve a great deal of attention.

Chairman

The only papers on which we can still make submissions are the following: Adapting to Climate Change in Europe — Options for EU Action; Designing the Future Common European Asylum System; A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity Related Health Issues; and a White Paper on sport, as Deputy Costello quite correctly pointed out.

If members are agreeable the joint committee we will get a short report in which the consultant can identify the relevant issues and we can arrange a meeting to discuss them before Christmas.

We will have a fairly intensive work programme between now and Christmas. From the middle of January onwards it will be quite intensive as we will need to produce an interim report on the European reform treaty by the end of January for the committee as a whole. We will then do the tour throughout the regions. There would not be much sense in starting a tour of the country nine or ten months before the referendum is due to be held. Ideally, we should do it within six weeks of the date of the referendum. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The draft work programme has been included in every committee member's agenda. The programme includes the draft paper on the information and public awareness programme to be drawn up for the referendum campaign. We must present both sides of the argument, which depends on the views of committee members and those who will be called upon to participate. The first part of the programme involves committee members familiarising themselves with the issues involved in order that each member will be able to undertake whatever is required in a public forum or arena in dealing with whatever issues may be raised. An interim report will be produced by our consultant which will be used as a handbook for each member in the run-up to the referendum.

A budget for the public awareness initiative must be sought from the working group of committee chairmen. Is that agreed? Agreed. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs are both anxious that the media become involved in the information programme, either for or against it. There is a good case for inviting members of the media to see most of the work we do, be it on a trip to Brussels or some other aspect. The newspapers should be asked to provide representatives to participate in any debate likely to take place. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The minutes of the last meeting of the joint committee have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence received since the January meeting has been circulated. As the first delegation has not arrived, I will gallop through it, with members' permission. Item No. 13 deals with the 19th annual Crans Montana Forum which takes place in Monaco from 26 to 29 June 2008. Members will have plenty of time to make up their minds on whether they want to participate in it, but it may be necessary depending on circumstances in the meantime to make a decision. It is proposed to note the item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 14 is a letter dated 13 November, with enclosures, from Senator Eugene Regan relating to the EU reform treaty. It is proposed to note the letter. Agreed? Agreed.

No. 15 is a letter from Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who is a member of the European Court of Auditors, advising the committee that the court would present its annual report for 2006 to the European Parliament on 12 November. An invitation has been extended to the committee to visit the court. It has been a while since a visit was made and members may wish to respond positively. Auditors are important persons and spending is always an engaging item for the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is proposed that we take up the invitation and note it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item No. 16 is a letter from the Office of the Ceann Comhairle dealing with a joint parliamentary meeting which takes places in Brussels on 3 and 4 December. Members will recall that the committee agreed to participate in this meeting and to combine the visit with the familiarisation of EU institutions. It is proposed to note the letter. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 17 is a copy of EU News Bulletin No. 43 produced by the Irish Regions Office and which it is proposed to note. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Nos. 18 and 19 are conclusions reached at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting following from the committee's discussion with the responsible Ministers at the last meeting. It is proposed to note them. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 20 is an e-mail from GOAL enclosing two articles on alleged corruption and human rights abuses in Ethiopia and Uganda. Members may wish to discuss the matter at a later stage. If they do, they may say so. It is proposed to note this item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We will proceed to No. 7, any other business, European social reality. The European Commission has launched a public consultation process on the social reality of Europe today and seeks views on current social trends on what contributes to well-being in today's society. That is a grand piece of eurospeak. Our consultants will be busy. It is no harm to seek a short report on the issue, arrange a meeting and make a submission. Is that agreed? Agreed. The director of communications at the European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Ms Marie Donnelly, is available to come to Dublin on 11 December to discuss the consultation process with the committee. If we can arrange a matter on that day, the committee will meet Ms Donnelly. Is that agreed? Agreed. Members are full of enthusiasm.

There will be a pre-GAERC briefing with the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs before the next GAERC meeting which will take place on 10 December. The Joint Committee on European Affairs will attend meetings in Brussels on 3 and 4 December and the budget will be introduced on 5 December. Therefore, the committee wishes to meet the Minister of State to brief members in advance of his participation in the GAERC meeting. This meeting could take place on Thursday, 6 December at 11.30 a.m. Is it agreed that we will do so because it would look odd if we were not available? Agreed.