A SPECIAL sitting of the Dáil will take place on Europe Day, May 9th, as part of the Government’s efforts to re-engage fully with the European Union.
Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said yesterday the special sitting would represent “a statement of intent“ by the Government in its dealings with the EU. “It will relaunch Ireland’s involvement and active participation in Europe.”
She said all of the Ministers who had attended European Council meetings had been struck by the deterioration in Ireland’s standing over the past few years among individuals and institutions.
“A huge task faces us in rebuilding the traditionally strong relationship that Ireland had with Europe so that we can pursue our national objectives in the interests of the people of this country,” said Ms Creighton.
The special sitting of the Dáil will be addressed by Ireland’s EU commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
The country’s 12 MEPs will be invited to speak in the Dáil debate, the first time this has happened.
“The sitting will begin a journey towards greater co-operation between the Government, the Oireachtas and the European institutions and will mark Ireland’s arrival back at the centre of European political and cultural life,” said Ms Creighton.
The Taoiseach will open proceedings with a “state of the union” address, followed by Ms Geoghegan-Quinn and the MEPs.
TDs will have the opportunity to question MEPs about the latest developments in the European Union.
The sitting will focus on where the EU should be by 2020 and what Ireland’s role will be in getting there.
It will explore how co-operation between the Government and the European institutions can be enhanced and how Ireland can proactively influence European policy.
Ms Creighton hoped the event, which will launch Europe Week in Ireland, would begin a debate about how relationships with our EU partners could be repaired and how the country could engage constructively with them.
“I will travel to Paris and Berlin later in the week, spending two days in each city meeting my ministerial counterparts, engaging with cultural and business groups and spreading the message that Ireland is back on the European stage,” she said, adding that the sitting was the beginning of a process of re-engagement.
“I have been working on plans since my appointment as Minister for European Affairs to raise awareness of European affairs in Ireland and encourage a national debate on the subject. Europe Week will be followed by many other initiatives in the following months,” she said.
“In June we will launch an exciting initiative aimed at developing knowledge and understanding of European history, culture and language in primary schools.”
The Minister said the president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, will visit Ireland in July. “I am in the process of organising a major event showcasing Irish and European culture, which will be attended by the Taoiseach and President Buzek.”
Other events will involve a visit to London by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore.