JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2008

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

The draft minutes of the meeting of 13 February have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence received since our previous meeting has been circulated. Item No. 58(e) is a list of proposed measures considered by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny at its meeting on 12 February. Is it agreed that we note the list? Agreed. When they have an opportunity, members should peruse the list to ensure that we do not miss any matters about which we should be concerned.

It is proposed that we adopt the committee's draft report on European scrutiny, which relates to our contribution to the European Commission's social reality consultation. The draft report was circulated to members. Is it agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed to lay the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas? Agreed. Is it agreed that a request be made to debate the report in both Houses in the form of a motion? Agreed.

With regard to our earlier debate on petitions, etc., the committee, being duly appointed, must be the conduit for referring issues to the Houses of the Oireachtas. We must ensure that matters do not fall between two stools.

Deputy Joe Costello

Was the draft report to which the Chairman referred compiled by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny or by this committee?

Chairman

It is our social reality report.

Deputy Joe Costello

To which report is the Chairman referring?

Chairman

Use of the word "scrutiny" is somewhat misleading. I am referring to the report we produced.

Deputy Joe Costello

Will the report on stakeholders also be laid before the Houses?

Chairman

We will deal with that next week. Some amendments have been added.

Deputy Joe Costello

I know that. Will we seek a debate in the House on our proceedings, particularly in the context of the people who came before the committee, and on the social reality report?

Chairman

Yes.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Will we seek a debate in the House on the entire matter?

Chairman

On our reports.

Senator Déirdre de Búrca

I presume there will be separate debates on the two reports.

Chairman

That is correct. They will not be dealt with on the same day. Is the proposal agreed? Agreed.

The Vice President of the European Commission, Margot Wallström, will appear before the committee on Thursday next.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Will she be here on Thursday of this week?

Chairman

She will be here at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Will we hold a formal session?

Chairman

Yes.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Excellent. Ms Wallström is an outstanding woman. She is responsible for the Communicating Europe initiative.

Chairman

Correct. We will hold meetings on Tuesday and Thursday of next week. Today's meeting was quite lengthy. It was unfortunate that we were obliged to debate the matter relating to agriculture for a long time. We could not curtail that debate. I compliment members on their contributions to that debate.

Senator Terry Leyden

If possible, perhaps we should avoid inviting more than one group to come before us.

Chairman

I asked the two groups to appear today because the situation in the Middle East must be dealt with.

Deputy Noel Treacy

On days such as today, the committee must serve the world.

Chairman

The clerk informs me that we will not ask two groups to come before us on every occasion on which we meet.

Deputy Noel Treacy

That is excellent. The clerk is doing a great job.

Deputy Joe Costello

Has any progress been made in respect of Kosovo, where matters have become quite lively?

Chairman

That is true.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Will we meet Commissioner Wallström at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February?

Chairman

The meeting will take place at 9.30 a.m.

Deputy Noel Treacy

We will then attend the proceedings of the forum at 11 a.m.

Chairman

Other members will attend but I will not.

Deputy Noel Treacy

The Chairman is more than welcome to do so.

Chairman

Deputy Costello inquired about Kosovo. We are in the process of agreeing a date for a meeting with the Kosovo Ireland Solidarity Group.

Deputy Joe Costello

I would have expected something more substantial than a meeting with the Kosovo Ireland Solidarity Group.

Chairman

Yes. We need to be briefed, possibly by the Minister, in respect of this matter.

Deputy Barry Andrews raised the contentious issue of Zimbabwe at our previous meeting. I accept that people may hold varying views on this matter. It might be no harm to request a briefing from the Minister in respect of it. From what I have heard, the current situation in Zimbabwe is extraordinary. It is a very wealthy country and possesses major amounts of natural resources. However, appalling things are happening with regard to the economy, corruption and so on.

We should make time available for debates on events in Kosovo and the implications thereof for the western Balkans. Perhaps the Minister might make contact with the Department to try to bring something forward about Zimbabwe.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Three aspects need to be covered — political, financial and justice.

Deputy Michael Mulcahy

This is not a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Chairman

Yes it is. It is part of the remit of the General Affairs Council that the European Community and the Deputy are supposed to deal with. It is part of the Minister's remit through the European Union. EU-African affairs are part of his remit.

Deputy Noel Treacy

Absolutely. We need those three aspects of the situation in Zimbabwe covered in our request for a briefing.

Chairman

Yes.

The joint committee adjourned at 5.40 p.m. until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, 28 February 2008.