3 Feabh 2014, 12:25
RTÉ's Europe Editor Tony Connelly, former MEP and TD Proinsias De Rossa and NUI Maynooth's Dr John O'Brennan come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs tomorrow to consider the review of Irish Foreign Policy currently underway.
3 February 2014
The Review, which is being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, sets out to ensure Ireland gains maximum benefit from the resources it commits to international engagement in a rapidly-changing world.
As part of its contribution to this process, the EU Affairs Committee is examining the promotion of Ireland's interests within the European Union and what policy steps are necessary to ensure that Europe's voice is stronger at a global level.
Chairman of the Committee Dominic Hannigan TD says: “The Foreign Affairs Policy Review, launched by the Tánaiste in October, is a significant initiative to optimise Ireland’s foreign policy for an ever more globalised and interconnected world. How we engage with the European institutions and our European partners is a central pillar to our foreign policy, having direct implications for our economic recovery. As a Committee, we are examining the effectiveness of Ireland's engagement within the Council, including the central role of the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels; bilateral engagement with Member States, including through embassies in EU capitals; and relations with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
“The meeting tomorrow will be an opportunity to hear from three distinct voices on how Ireland’s interests can be best pursued within the EU system. Tony Connelly has been based in Brussels since 2001 and has reported comprehensively on the evolving relationship between Ireland and the European Union. Boasting a distinguished parliamentary career as a Minister, TD and MEP, Prionsias De Rossa has a valuable perspective on how Ireland’s influence within the European institutions can be safeguarded and enhanced. Meanwhile, Dr John O’Brennan lectures European Politics at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth where he is also Director of the Centre for the Study of Wider Europe. His research interests span the processes and politics of EU enlargement, Ireland's experience of European integration and the fallout from the Eurozone crises which continues to complicate EU politics.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow 4 February at 2 pm in Committee Room 1, LH 2000.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
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