1 Oct 2014, 12:54
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will tomorrow meet with newly elected MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Brian Hayes for a discussion on their respective policy approaches and priorities as MEPs.
1 October 2014
The meeting is likely to focus on how the MEPs will seek to influence the European Parliament’s legislative, budgetary and supervisory powers. The Head of the European Parliament’s Office in Ireland Francis Jacobs will also address the Committee on the wider context.
Committee Chairman Dominic Hannigan TD says: “Our meeting tomorrow will hear from the distinct perspectives of two newly elected MEPs. With the changes introduced in the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament has significantly enhanced powers with ever more EU policy requiring its approval. Committee Members will particularly keen to explore how both MEPS will approach their Committee work, given the specialised and influential role that the European Parliament’s Committee system plays in wider policy-making. Indeed, with the high profile hearings of Commissioners Designate before the Committees in Strasbourg this week, this is a timely meeting to assess the respective approaches of our MEPs.”
“Relations between the European Parliament and national parliaments will also be raised. Given that our Committee represents the Oireachtas at the Conference of European Union Affairs Committees (COSAC), we look forward to hearing how relations between national parliaments and the European Parliament can be enhanced. With European Parliament proceedings being broadcast on the newly launched Oireachtas TV Channel, our discussions may also wish to explore how Oireachtas Members and MEPs might collaborate to better connect the work of both parliaments to Irish citizens.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Thursday 2 October at 2 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. This meeting will be broadcast live on Oireachtas TV (UPC 207 or Sky 574) and can be followed online here.
Committee Membership
Deputies: Eric Byrne, Seán Crowe, Timmy Dooley, Bernard J. Durkan, John Halligan, Dominic Hannigan (Chair), Seán Kyne, and Joe O’Reilly
Senators: Colm Burke, Aideen, Hayden, Terry Leyden, Catherine Noone and Kathryn Reilly