JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Thursday, 6 Nov 2008

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

No. 2 is the minutes of the meeting of 28 October, which have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence received since our previous meeting has been circulated. Items 240 to 247 were delivered to members on Friday last and items 249 to 250 were delivered yesterday. Item 240 relates to the Crans Montana Forum, the 20th annual session of which is due to be held from 20 to 24 June 2009 in Brussels — with modules devoted to the international role of the European Union and the strength of its ties with eastern Europe, Africa and the Arab world. There was an interesting exchange of views at the last Crans Montana Forum. We were called upon to give some indication as to what our position was likely to be in the matter of the ratification of the Lisbon treaty.

This session takes place from 24 to 27 June 2009. We should keep it for correspondence purposes and try to arrange attendance if at all possible. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item 241 is correspondence with enclosure from Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

We should note it.

Chairman

It is proposed to note the matter. If members have any particular issues to raise, we might have it raised at the next meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item 242 is a letter from the Fondation Robert Schuman. It is Letter 367, entitled "The referendum in Ireland to ratify the European Treaties: Obligatory or Tradition?" I understand there is a meeting related to it or one has taken place, I am not sure which. In any case, we are familiar with the subject and we have already spoken about it. It is proposed to note the letter.

We have also received correspondence from the Fondation Robert Schuman about a conference — this is the one to which I referred earlier — entitled "2009: What Challenges for the Franco-American relationship?" It is to be held in Paris on Friday, 5 December 2008. That is a meeting that should be attended and I would ask members to try to make themselves available for it. Between now and Christmas is not a great time, but important items of that nature should be borne in mind. It is proposed to note this and that it be for referral back to the committee.

Item 244 is EU Bulletin No. 53, October 2008. It is proposed to note the bulletin. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item 245 is the Inforegio Newsletter, October 2008, No. 173, entitled "Health Check on European Towns and Cities — latest Urban Audit Data Announced." As nobody wishes to raise any issue arising, it is proposed to note the newsletter.

Item 246 is an invitation to attend a seminar entitled "A Soul for Europe" on 14 and 15 November 2008. It is not convenient for me to attend. Somebody must attend. The reason for this is that policy has a way of evolving at meetings of this nature. I had hoped to attend but if I cannot, I would like somebody else, perhaps the Vice Chairman, to do so.

Deputy Timmy Dooley

Is that Friday and Saturday?

Chairman

Yes, 14 and 15 November. It will be covered anyway. Is that agreed? Agreed. This item of correspondence has been circulated previously.

Item 247 is correspondence from the Chairman of the Committee for European Affairs, Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, regarding the situation of Macedonian citizens in northern Greece. It is proposed to note the correspondence. Perhaps we might have a short comment from the Department on it at the next meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item 248 is a letter from the Fondation Robert Schuman. It is Letter 368, entitled "Europe in Barack Obama's Mirror". As nobody wants to raise anything on it and the members have already spoken about it in anticipation, it is proposed to note the letter.

Item 249 is an e-mail from Mr. Tony Gallagher, Department of Finance, in response to Deputy Costello's question on the exact figure for the national pensions fund. It is proposed to note the e-mail. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Item 250 is an e-mail enclosing the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny's special report on six month reports by Departments for the first half of 2008. The report will be debated in the House on Thursday, 13 November 2008. It is proposed to note the e-mail. Is that agreed? Agreed.

As there are no matters, I propose to go into private session for the remainder of the meeting.

The joint committee went into private session at 2.55 p.m. and adjourned at 3.05 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 11 November 2008.