Members are all very welcome. The Government has suggested that the Oireachtas should have a major role in considering the fall-out from the referendum result. We can all concur with that. Specifically, it is concerned with the outcome of research under way and the challenges facing Ireland as we come into very uncertain times. Those uncertain times are now beginning to manifest themselves in the WTO discussions and elsewhere throughout the European Union and in the EU institutions. The pivotal role which it was recognised Ireland had in the past, right up to the present, is not now as pronounced and comparisons are being made with countries such as Denmark that had a major role to play some years ago, but whose influence was later seen to decline.
In October 2007 the Dáil and Seanad assigned orders of reference to this committee which included considering such matters arising from Ireland's membership of the European Community as it might select, and as might be referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas. That is appropriate and I congratulate members of the committee for the tremendous work they have done in the course of the lead up to the Lisbon referendum. That meant outreach meetings, and members travelling all over the country. Members made a specific effort to attend these meetings and to ask the hard questions as they arose as well as imposing the Oireachtas brand, so to speak, on the tone of the discussions.
I hope all members will join me in saying that if any further deliberations or other cross-party analysis of Ireland's position in the EU are required, then this committee is obviously the appropriate forum. The committee has done a great job in the past, and will continue to do a great job. I emphasise, in anticipation of what individual members might say, that no member of the committee has been reluctant to accept his or her responsibilities. I have no doubt the committee is more than capable of facing its responsibility as regards any future challenges.
