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JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Tuesday, 11 Mar 2008

Business of Joint Committee.

Are the minutes of the meeting of 5 March agreed? Agreed. Correspondence received since that meeting has been circulated.

Is it agreed to note the list of proposals considered and decisions adopted by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny at its meeting on 26 February? Agreed.

It is proposed to note No. 67, a letter from the Czech Parliament forwarding a copy of the resolution adopted by the Parliament on the future status of Kosovo. Is that agreed? Agreed.

It is proposed to note No. 68, a letter from the ambassador of Iran enclosing information on the political organisation of the National Council of Resistance of Iran. Is that agreed? Agreed. Council representatives have visited the House on a number of occasions. Debate is ongoing between them and the authorities in Iran.

It is proposed to note No. 69, a letter from the European Citizen Action Service, an NGO, forwarding its publication of 50 questions to citizens and their answers on the Treaty of Rome. A copy was received by the secretariat and will be made available to any member who wishes to have a copy. It is proposed to note the letter. Since all members have not read it, I cannot comment on it. I ask the clerk to do a précis in order that if anything needs to be brought to our attention, we will have it.

No. 70 is a letter from the University of Hull inviting members to participate in an on-line survey of ESDP. This was sent to all members but the university notes that only two members have responded and a minimum of 12 responses is required. I do not recall receiving the letter but I presume everybody received it. I will arrange for 12 members to reply.

It can be completed on-line. It is easy.

It is proposed to note the letter and act on it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is an e-mail from a christian fellowship seeking information on the committee's meetings on the Lisbon treaty. It is proposed to forward the committee schedule of regional meetings and invite the group to attend. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy John Perry, Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny, has written to ask if his committee might be included in the regional meetings and allowed to participate in them. I see no problem in acceding to his request. The secretariat wish this item dealt with in a particular way and we will deal with it shortly.

An e-mail has been received from Mr. James Bews in Berlin regarding a student group research project on the Lisbon treaty. A student group is carrying out research into the public debate on the Lisbon treaty in Ireland, Bulgaria, France and Germany. The group will visit Ireland between 12 and 19 March and wish to have a short interview with a member of the committee during the visit. Does any member wish to participate in this interview?

I will deal with them.

A draft report of the COSAC meeting in Ljubljana on 17 and 18 February, which I attended, is available for the attention of members of the committee. Is the draft report approved? Approved.

A draft programme of the COSAC plenary meeting to be held during the Slovenian Presidency on 17 and 18 May, including the estimated cost, has been circulated. I seek formal approval for three members to attend the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed. All travel approved by the committee must be directly associated with the committee's work. Travel to Slovenia fulfils this condition. I propose that we now go into private session.

The joint committee went into private session at 3.18 p.m. and adjourned at 4.20 p.m. sine die.
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