Costello Elected Chairman On European Union Affairs

Joe Costello, TD has been elected Chairman of the Committee on European Union Affairs.

Speaking after his election, Deputy Costello said: “The European Union is playing an increasingly important role in Irish Parliamentary affairs. Approximately half of the legislation enacted in Ireland emanates from the European Union. In the past most Ministers attending meetings of the Council of Ministers were not held directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Lisbon Treaty extended the role of National Parliaments into greater supervision of and greater input into the framing of European legislation.”

The newly elected Chairman said the new European Affairs Committee together with the Sectoral Committees would play a key role in ensuring that EU legislation and proposals are properly scrutinised and in holding the Government to account in Ireland’s relations with Europe.

Mr Costelleo continued: “It is quite obvious that we are at a crucial time in the history of the European Union. Ireland and the EU face many issues and challenges.

“The Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty showed how disconnected Ireland had become from Europe. The European Affairs Committee will open up communication with the Irish People on EU issues. The Committee will link up with the Irish public through electronic media and seek their views on issues of major importance affecting Ireland and Europe.

“I expect that this Committee will play an important role in informing debate on the European Union in Ireland and in fully considering important EU developments and initiatives affecting Ireland. It is ever more important that the policies emanating from the European Union are properly examined and that this Committee fully utilises its opportunities for engagement with the EU institutions to monitor and influence the political and strategic direction of the Union as a whole in the coming years. This will form a key part of the Committee’s remit.”

Paschal Donohue, TD was elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee also discussed a schedule for future meetings and agreed that all European Union Affairs meetings should be held on Thursdays at 12 noon.

(BMcN)