JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jun 2008

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Today's meeting has been selected for a transmission on a pilot Oireachtas channel operated by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources as part of its digital television pilot project. The pilot project involves a trial of the digital television service by 500 public participants and viewers drawn from the Dublin and Louth-Meath areas.

A briefing on the background to the WTO negotiations has been circulated to members. A delegation from the IFA will join us shortly. In the meantime, we will proceed with the draft minutes of the meeting of 27 May, which have been circulated. Are the draft minutes agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence received since the last meeting has been circulated, the first item of which is No. 147, a list of proposed measures considered in decisions adopted by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny at its meeting on 27 May. This has been forwarded to this committee for information. Item No. 148 is a copy of EU news bulletin No. 49, produced by the Irish Regions Office. Is it agreed to note these two items? Agreed.

Item No. 149 is a letter from Mr. Colin Roche on behalf of Trade Matters, seeking an opportunity to make a presentation to the committee on the current trade talks between the EU and the ACP countries. Is it agreed to invite him to the next available meeting? Agreed.

Item No. 150 is a letter from Commissioner Wallström enclosing the Commission's response to the committee's submission on the Green Paper, Adapting to Climate Change in Europe. The Commission notes the committee's general support for the policies proposed in the Green Paper. The Commission intends to follow up the Green Paper consultation process with a White Paper outlining concrete proposals in this area. It is proposed to note the item.

Item No. 151 is a submission from Financial Services Ireland on the European Commission White Paper on the integration of EU mortgage credit markets. This arises from the committee's invitation to Financial Services Ireland to forward its views on the White Paper, which will contribute to the committee's formal submission to the Commission on the White Paper. It would be better if we had detailed consideration at a later stage.

Deputy Noel Treacy

In view of the current financial position, the fact that we have a sterling zone adjoining us on this island and we are in the eurozone, I suggest we give this further consideration at a full meeting later.

Chairman

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item No. 152 is a copy of resolutions adopted by the joint parliamentary committee of the European Economic Area at its 30th meeting in Iceland on 29 April. Is it agreed to note it? Agreed.

Item No. 153 is a copy of the Commission's annual report on relations between the Commission and national parliaments. This committee will have an ongoing interest in that but for today's meeting it will be acceptable to note it. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item No. 154 is an invitation from the Russian embassy to a reception on 12 June on the occasion of Russia's national day.

Deputy Mary O’Rourke

It is Ireland's national day too.

Chairman

Correct. It is proposed to note it and thank it for the invitation. It comes on a very important day from our point of view as well.

Deputy Noel Treacy

If our secretariat is available to represent us, why not go?

Chairman

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is a draft travel report on attendance at the joint parliamentary meeting on the western Balkans on 26 and 27 May and it has been circulated along with the minutes. Have members all studied it? I attended the meeting and can report in short. There were strident views expressed by both sides, particularly by the Serbs and Montenegrans. It is quite clear that a great deal of effort is required to bring together various groups and bodies in which other European countries have an interest, such as the Greeks who have strong views on some aspects of the negotiations that are taking place. It is an area that the committee must participate in to a considerable extent, as time passes. It is proposed to keep members up to date and we have agreed to a visit to the area later in the year. Is that agreed? Agreed.