20 Feabh 2013, 18:01
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will meet with economists from TASC and UCC tomorrow afternoon to discuss the implications for Ireland of an evolving economic and monetary union.
20 February 2013
They will also discuss what necessary steps need to be taken to bolster democratic accountability and legitimacy within the European Union. This is the inaugural meeting of a national debate the Committee is leading on Ireland and the European Union during the Irish Presidency.
Seamus Coffey of the UCC School of Economics and TASC Director Nat O’Connor will address the Committee on issues around financial, budgetary and economic policy integration in the EU.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD said: “The unprecedented economic and financial crisis of recent years has shaken the European Union to its core. With the European Union evolving, it is timely for our Committee to open a national debate on Ireland’s place in that Union. Kicking off our debate tomorrow will be Seamus Coffey of UCC and TASC Director Nat O’Connor.
\"Seamus Coffey addressed the Committee as part of its deliberations on the Fiscal Treaty last year and is an authority on EU financial, budgetary and economic integration. TASC describes itself as an independent think-tank dedicated to addressing Ireland’s high level of economic inequality, and our Committee looks forward to hearing Nat O’Connor’s distinct perspective on safeguards required in such an integration process. We will wish to explore with both experts how democratic accountability and legitimacy can be underpinned in ever closer political union.”
The meeting takes place at 2 pm tomorrow 21 February in Committee Room 2, LH 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live.
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Call for Submissions: The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs is leading a national debate on Ireland and the future of the European Union. As part of this process, the Committee is inviting submissions from individual members of the public and organisations on the future of the European Union and Ireland’s role in that Union. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 29 March 2013. Read more and make a submission.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, TD
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly