10 Oct 2013, 16:59
An enhanced role for the Seanad in oversight of EU legislation, an improved Committee structure for assessing proposals from Brussels and greater dialogue between MEPs and national parliamentarians were among the suggestions raised at an EU Affairs Committee meeting this afternoon.
10 October 2013
UCD's Dr Gavin Barrett was before the Committee to present an extensive study on the evolving role of the Oireachtas in European Union affairs.
Dr Barrett, Senior Lecturer at School of Law in UCD, was the recipient of the Parliamentary Fellowship for 2010-2011 and produced the detailed report in fulfilment of the award. The report is entitled The Oireachtas and the European Union: the Evolving Role of a National Parliament in European Affairs.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD says: “We thank Dr Barrett for an insightful presentation of his extensive study which covers many facets of the evolving role of our national parliament in EU Affairs. It was pointed out that EU engagement was complex, time-consuming and not always electorally rewarding for national parliamentarians. However, it was widely agreed that what happens at EU level had profound impact on citizens on the ground and that the Oireachtas needed to be appropriately equipped with the financial and human resources to carefully scrutinise EU legislation.”
“Dr Barrett commended many aspects of the role of the Committee system in scrutinising EU legislation, most of which is now dealt with by the relevant sectoral Committee. However, he suggested that a lead Committee, such as the EU Affairs Committee, should assume overall responsibility for the scrutiny process, ensuring tighter oversight, greater coordination and more formal reporting by the sectoral Committees on their EU-related work.
“An enhanced role for the Seanad in EU oversight was also raised, with Dr Barrett pointing out that the current public appetite for reform of the Seanad had to be grasped with urgency. With the growing power of the European Parliament, some Members also questioned how the Oireachtas might engage on a more formal and regular footing with Irish MEPs.”
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Committee Membership
Deputies: Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe, Timmy Dooley, Bernard J. Durkan, John Halligan, Dominic Hannigan (Chair), Seán Kyne, Dara Murphy (Vice-Chair) and Joe O’Reilly
Senators: Colm Burke, John Kelly, Terry Leyden, Catherine Noone and Kathryn Reilly