Revised arrangements for parliamentary scrutiny of European Union affairs take effect from today. They are part of the Government's attempt to address concerns expressed in the last Nice Treaty referendum. The new set-up is intended to facilitate more "engagement, participation and transparency" in the development of policy on EU matters.
The newly-formed Dáil Select Committee on European Affairs will play a "key role" in these new arrangements. It will examine the issue of putting the arrangements on a legislative footing when the House returns in September.
The members of the select committee are: Mr Barry Andrews, Mr Pat Carey, Mr Seán Haughey, Mr Seamus Kirk and Mr Michael Mulcahy of Fianna Fáil; Mr Gay Mitchell and Mr Jim O'Keeffe of Fine Gael; Ms Mae Sexton (PD), Mr Jack Wall (Labour), Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin) and Ms Marian Harkin (Independent).
It is expected that, when the new Seanad convenes in September, a joint European affairs committee of both Houses will be established.
Under the new arrangements, ministers will automatically provide the committee or another relevant specialist committee of the Oireachtas with a summary of all new legislative proposals from the European Commission. Ministers and their officials will be available at all times, and particularly in advance of council meetings of EU ministers, to discuss the issues on the Council agenda.
Explaining the new system to the Forum on Europe last March, the then government chief whip, Mr Séamus Brennan, said, that "within four weeks of the initial receipt of fresh legislative proposals", the responsible department would provide the relevant committee with "a short paper which would indicate the nature and the purpose of the proposal and an initial indication of the possible implications for Ireland".
Proposals would be divided by the departments into three different categories, the highest being "Proposals of Major Potential Significance". On receipt of the reports, the relevant committee could proceed as it wished, e.g. by holding public hearings and/or inviting ministers to appear before it or by demanding a full Oireachtas debate.
Meanwhile, in line with the Government decision to recall the Dáil early to debate the Bill providing for the second Nice referendum, the House resumes on September 4th. It is intended to complete all stages of the Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2002, by September 11th, following which the House will adjourn until October 9th.
The Government has also announced that Mr Pat Carey (Fianna Fáil, Dublin North-West) will replace the newly-appointed Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, as an alternate member for Ireland at the Convention on the Future of Europe.