I would like to comment briefly and welcome this motion. I have chosen to comment briefly because I have recently been very critical of the Houses of the Oireachtas and of their powers. It is worth noting that the renewal of this motion does significantly improve the possibility of the Seanad playing a useful role in the scrutiny and examination of European Community draft proposals. This motion will renew for 1980 the amendment of the Standing Orders of the Seanad so that if the Joint Committee request in one of their reports on EEC legislation that there be a debate, and a motion to that effect is tabled, then after six clear days this is a mandatory provision that time be allocated to the Seanad for the debate of that motion. We have had some important examples of that, where motions noting reports of the Joint Committee on Youth Employment in the European Community, on the European Monetary System, on the teaching of languages in the Community and other such motions.
It is an example where there has been a willingness by the Seanad—I would like to pay tribute to the Leader of the House in this regard—to extend the possibility of giving an additional function to the Seanad not on an optional basis requiring that time be given if there is no Government business or if it is decided to allow for time in the way that time is allowed for Opposition Motions, but providing time on a mandatory basis so that when the House is sitting, an hour and a half must be allocated for a discussion of the motion and for consideration of the report of the Joint Committee.
I believe this is going to be of increasing importance as European Community proposals and policies impinge more and more on the economic and social life of citizens in this country. We know that there are possible changes envisaged in the common agricultural policy, developments in the regional development fund and such areas, and it is most desirable and welcome that this House have a facility which operates in a mandatory way to debate and discuss the reports of the Joint Committee and the implications of those reports. I welcome the continuation of this facility and note it as one of the most constructive and greatest potential developments the House has seen in recent years.