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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

Vol. 247 No. 3

Establishment of Joint Committee on European Affairs: Motion

I move:

(1) That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on European Union Affairs, consisting of four members of Seanad Éireann, be appointed to consider such matters arising from--

(a) Ireland’s membership of the European Union, and

(b) Ireland’s adherence to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as it may select and which are not referred to any other Committee.

(2) The Select Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 71(1), (2) and (3).

(3) The Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee appointed by Dáil Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, which, without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), shall consider—

(a) the European Commission’s strategic planning documents, including the Commission Work Programme,

(b) cross-sectoral policy developments at European Union level,

(c) matters listed for consideration on the agenda for meetings of the General Affairs Council of Ministers and the outcome of such meetings,

(d) such regulations under the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2009 and other instruments made under statute and necessitated by the obligations of membership of the European Union as the Committee may select,

(e) notifications referred by the Seanad under Standing Order 108 (1)(a),

(f) notifications of proposals for the amendment of the Treaties received from the European Council pursuant to Article 48.2 of the Treaty on European Union,

(g) notifications of applications for membership of the European Union received from the European Council pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, and

(h) such other matters as may be referred to it by the Seanad from time to time.

(4) The Joint Committee shall report to both Houses of the Oireachtas on the operation of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002.

(5) The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Orders 71 (other than paragraph (2A) thereof), 107, 108(1)(a) and 109.

(6) The Joint Committee shall have the power to make recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (or Minister of State) on European Union matters.

(7) The following may attend meetings of the Joint Committee and take part in proceedings without having a right to vote or to move motions and amendments:

(a) Members of the European Parliament elected from constituencies in Ireland, including Northern Ireland,

(b) Members of the Irish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and

(c) at the invitation of the Committee, other Members of the European Parliament.

(8) The Joint Committee shall represent both Houses of the Oireachtas at the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) and shall report to both Houses of the Oireachtas thereon.

(9) The Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee shall also be the Chairman of the Joint Committee.

Question put and agreed to.
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