The 30th Anniversary of the 7th Amendment

Image via WikipediaNext year sees the 30th Anniversary of the Seventh Amendment to the Irish Constitution. The Amendment was approved by referendum on 5 July 1979 and signed into law on the 3 August of the same year. A whopping 92.4% of the electorate voted for the amendment, yet to this day it remains inacted. The seventh amendment allowed for changes in the how the Seanad University Seats were filled and allowed for graduates of other institutions of higher education to vote for the Seanad.

The text of Article 18.4 of the Irish Constitution after the passing of the Seventh Amendment is as follows (new text is in bold):

1. The elected members of Seanad Éireann shall be elected as follows:

i. Three shall be elected by the National University of Ireland.
ii. Three shall be elected by the University of Dublin.
iii. Forty-three shall be elected from panels of candidates constituted as hereinafter provided.

2. Provision may be made by law for the election, on a franchise and in the manner to be provided by law, by one or more of the following institutions, namely:

i. the universities mentioned in subsection 1 of this section,
ii. any other institutions of higher education in the State, of so many members of Seanad Éireann as may be fixed by law in substitution for an equal number of the members to be elected pursuant to paragraphs i and ii of the said subsection 1.

A member or members of Seanad Éireann may be elected under this subsection by institutions grouped together or by a single institution.

3. Nothing in this Article shall be invoked to prohibit the dissolution by law of a university mentioned in subsection 1 of this section.

In its 30 years in the Constitution no Government has taken up on this amendment and passed a law to expand the franchise beyond TCD and the NUI Universities. Which is unusual.

The reason I blog about this is that I recently came across a Facebook group "Seanad Reform - After 30 years can we have our votes now?" calling for the franchise to be expanded. Will the current Government expand the vote to IT's and UL? I doubt it, but I think it is something that should be looked at in terms of reform of the Seanad without having to have a referendum on it.

Read this!

Last Thursday, the opposition parties in the Seanad (upper house) scored a victory over the Government and got a an amendment passed on the Charities Bill. The resulting debate is something you have to read. It shows Fianna Fail senators challenging An Cathaoirleach (Speaker)and Fine Gael Senators standing up for him. Amazing to see. Below is an extract from the Offical Report

An Cathaoirleach: Amendment No. 7 on section 2.

Senator Frances Fitzgerald (FG): I hope the Government will accept this result and not try to change it given the historic nature of this victory.

An Cathaoirleach: The result has been announced.

Senator Diarmuid Wilson (FF): Could I call a walk-through vote?

Senator Frances Fitzgerald (FG): Surely Senator Wilson is not trying to overturn it.

(Interruptions).

Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG): I do not think a walk-though vote can be called at this stage.

An Cathaoirleach: Please, just hold it.

Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG): I do not think one can do so under Standing Orders.

Senator David Norris (Ind): Will it be the same Members voting?

Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG): The Greens are here at last.

(Interruptions).

Senator David Norris(FG): This is disgraceful.

A Senator: The Greens have come to the rescue.

An Cathaoirleach: Section 2, Amendment No. 7 in the name of Senators Hannigan, White, McCarthy, Ryan, Prendergast and Kelly.

It does continue so read on

PS The Government lost the vote as the Greens forgot to turn up! The vote record is as follows:
Against the Amendment:
Brady, Martin.
Carty, John.
Cassidy, Donie.
Corrigan, Maria.
Daly, Mark.
Ellis, John.
Feeney, Geraldine.
Glynn, Camillus.
Keaveney, Cecilia.
Leyden, Terry.
MacSharry, Marc.
Ó Domhnaill, Brian.
Ó Murchú, Labhrás.
O’Donovan, Denis.
O’Malley, Fiona.
O’Sullivan, Ned.
Phelan, Kieran.
Wilson, Diarmuid.

For the Amendment
Bacik, Ivana.
Bradford, Paul.
Burke, Paddy.
Buttimer, Jerry.
Coffey, Paudie.
Coghlan, Paul.
Cummins, Maurice.
Fitzgerald, Frances.
Hannigan, Dominic.
Healy Eames, Fidelma.
McFadden, Nicky.
Mullen, Rónán.
Norris, David.
O’Reilly, Joe.
O’Toole, Joe.
Phelan, John Paul.
Regan, Eugene.
Ross, Shane.
Ryan, Brendan.

Upcoming EU Business in the Oireachtas, W/C 21st April

After the Adjournment last week over the death of former President Patrick Hillery, some business has been carried over to this week.

Dáil Éireann
The Dáil will resume its debate on the second stage of the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill on Tuesday. This will end on Wednesday and a motion will be laid before the House on Thursday about Committee Stage (Health Warning: this is an assumption, I could be wrong, Will know when the Order Paper is produced on Thursday)

Seanad Éireann
On Wednesday the Seanad will resume its Statements on the Lisbon Treaty. Thursday will see the Taoiseach in the House to give a statement on the Good Friday Agreement and Lisbon Reform Treaty at 14:00.

Committees
This week only the Joint Committee on European Affairs is in action. On Tuesday it will meet at 14:00 and will have discussions on the European Commission White Paper,
"Together for Health: A strategic approach for the EU 2008- 2013" and the European Commission Green Paper, "Effective enforcement of judgements in the European Union". The committee will also discuss the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting with the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Dick Roche. On Thursday, the committee will hold its third public meeting on the Lisbon reform treaty. This time in Cork. The meeting will take place at 20:00 in the Aula Maxima, University College Cork.

Oireachtas Adjourned

On Monday I blogged about the upcoming EU Buisness in the Oireachtas this week. This has been changed due to the fact that both houses of the Oireachtas have been Adjourned till Thursday at 10:30 am due to the Death of fomer President Dr. Patrick J. Hillary.

The Dáil will now deal with the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 on Thursday. The Debate will finish at 3:30pm.

The Seanad will have no EU Business.

There will only be one Joint Committee on European Affairs meeting and this will go ahead as a public meeting on the Treaty of Lisbon, in Galway at 8:30pm at The Harbour Hotel.

Also the funeral of fomer President Dr. Patrick J. Hillary will take place today. The Requiem Mass will take place at noon at the Pro-Cathedral.

Seanad Reform: Electoral System

In my first post on Seanad Reform, I am going to look at ideas on how to change the system of elections. The Report On Seanad Reform (PDF) by the Seanad Éireann Committee on Procedure and Privileges, Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, has analysed a few suggestions. This may repeat some of these. I am not going to explain how the current system works as that can at times confuse me! I will look at the Electoral System under a few headings: When, Electoral System, Nominees, Term, Size and Constituencies. Under each I will give my preffered option.

When Should the Seanad be Elected?
Some people think the Seanad should be eleced at a seperated day to the Dáil maybe at midterm say during the Local and European Elections? I do not think this will work though as Governments do not always last their full term, though lately they are. I think the Seanad Elections should not be decoupled from the Dáil for reason of stable Government. To have them decoupled could give a majority in the Dáil, but a Government would have to wait nearly two years before it could get a majority in the Seanad.

My Preffered Option: The Seanad should be voted for on the Same day as the Dáil.

Which Electoral System should be used?
Now this is the fun part as this will effect proposed constituencies and the size of the house. As the constitution sets out that elections should be by Propotional Representation, I will limit myself to those systems. There are a number of options availible.

We can use PRSTV but with larger constituencies or the same. I dont see this one working without making the Seanad larger.

We can use PR List with the same constituencies as the European Elections or a slight modification as there is more seats. We can also use the whole state as a constituency like Israel. The list system gives a wide range of options that we can use, it can be open or closed, we can use different allocation methods, D'Hondt method, Sainte-Laguë method, modified Sainte-Laguë method and LR-Hare method. All sound confusing don't they. There basic mathematical formulas either largest remainder or highest average.

Or we can be different and use the Additional-member system. Here we have a constituency and list vote. That could be confusing as it would involve three ballots on the same day, but then again some people do that at the Local and European Elections (Town, County, Europe). Would make the count even longer though!

My Preffered Option: Open PR-List where you can rate candidates within the list, taking some power away from party HQ's. I would probably go for the D'Hondt method as that is a fair method of distribution.

Nominees by the Taoiseach
This is something I think we should keep. But not to nominate so many. I think the Taoiseach nominees can be important to ensure the Government can get legislation through. 11 is too many though, I think that should be reduced to about 7. Also the Taosiheach should be encouraged (by statute?) to nominate representatives from minority groupings.

Term
I think the Seanad Term should be the same as the Dáil with no restriction on repeat terms. This is to ensure consistency among other things.

Size
The size of the Seanad should be increased. 60 is too small to be divided across many constituencies or even a National Constituency. I think the Seanad should be increased to about 70 but should be no higher then 80.

Constituency
The Seanad report gives 3 constiuencies in its recommendations (1 national, 1 Higher Education and 1 indirect). I disagree with having a seperate Higher Education Constituency, so I think there should be just one National Constituency electing 63 Senators. The Taoisheach then appoints the final 7.

So anyone else got thoughts on this aspect of Seanad Reform?

Upcoming EU Business in the Oireachtas, Week beginning April 14th

Dáil Éireann
The Dáil will resume its debate on the Second stage of the Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008 on Tuesday and the debate will continue on Wednesday and Thursday. The Dáil will have no other buisness relating directly the EU.

Seanad Éireann
The Seanad will resume its Statements on the Lisbon Treaty on Wednesday.

Committees
The Joint Committee on European Affairs is the only EU Committee in action this week. On Tuesday the Committee will be considering EU-Kosovo affairs and will meet with Ms Edita Tahiri, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo and Mr Driton Qehaja, Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of of Kosovo. The committee will also be considering the Commission White Paper "Together for Health: A strategic approach for the EU 2008-2013" and the Commission Green Paper on "Effective enforcement of judgments in the European Union"

Thursday sees the Joint Committee on European Affairs having its second meeting outside of Leinster House on the Lisbon Treaty, this time it will take place in Galway at 8:30pm in The Harbour Hotel.

Statements in Seanad Éireann on the Treaty of Lisbon

Yesterday in the Seanad, Senators made statements on the Treaty of Lisbon. The statements were limited to Leaders or Party Spokespersons. Selected Extracts below.

Senator Eugene Regan (Fine Gael):

The Cohesion Fund is a good example of the many areas in which Ireland has influenced the shape of Europe. Most of the significant changes took place after Ireland’s entry to the EEC. The Single European Act, the first change, came about as a result of work carried out by Jim Dooge, a former Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was appointed to chair the Dooge Committee, which essentially laid the basis for the structure and wording of the Single European Act. Having participated in this process for 35 years and played our part in shaping the nature of the Union to which we belong, it is surely not credible that we now question elements of the basic structure of the European Union which have been decided on and from which we have benefited. That is what is happening, to some extent, in the debate which is taking place.

One feature of the Europe Union is very important when we examine the question of the adoption and ratification of this treaty. Taking one simple example, we are concerned about Ireland’s position within the Commission. We have had excellent Commissioners who have managed while in office to keep an to keep an eye on Europe, and Irish interests therein. When it was suggested that the number of Commissioners should be limited it was argued that the larger member states would never give up their two Commissioners, but they did. It was then said they would never agree to rotation on a pure equality basis, and they did. That is what is in this treaty, namely, that we are among equals when it comes to membership of the European Commission. It will rotate and Ireland will have its turn, the same as the larger member states. No objections, therefore, can be raised in that regard

There is no good reason for Ireland to vote against this treaty. We would generate a lot of good-will by voting “yes”. To jeopardise for no good reason the goodwill we have in Europe, which we have enjoyed for 35 years, would be very foolhardy.

Senator Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail):

The reform treaty will not affect domestic policy or matters such as abortion. Nothing that happens at the meeting of the Council of Europe next week regarding Ms Gisela Wurm’s proposal on abortion will have a bearing on Ireland or jurisdiction therein. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, clearly stated this in the House this morning in his excellent, passionate and well-informed speech. It was great to have him present. He made a very clear statement on many issues has been a great help. I hope his speech is published widely in Ireland.

Contrary to some assertions made by witnesses to the Joint Committee on European Affairs earlier today, hard copies of the text of the treaty are available free of charge to the public throughout the country in all public libraries and at other locations. The document would be practically impossible to send to every household because it is so long, large and comprehensive.

The role of the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny will be expanded to ensure every one has a say in that regard. Today I attended a meeting of that committee where all the European legislation was brought forward and will be sent to different committees of these Houses for processing and consideration.

Senator Feargal Quinn (Independent):

Today’s debate at the Joint Committee on European Affairs was useful. Three different delegations came in and spoke. One of them, Mr. Roger Cole from the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, spoke about the concern for neutrality. I was reminded of my son in law. I have five children - two girls and three boys. We sent them all to France to school before they were 14 because somebody said that if one learns a language before one is 14, it is possible to speak it without accent. The two girls promptly fell in love with Frenchmen at the age of 14 and are now both married to Frenchmen. The family home of one of those Frenchmen, Nicolas de Son, where they now live, is in Soissons, about 80km north east of Paris. It was damaged severely in 1870 when the Germans decided to visit Paris. They stopped there, there was a battle there and the house was destroyed. It was rebuilt a few years later. In 1914, the Germans again decided to visit Paris and again the house was destroyed, and from the war reparations it was rebuilt. In 1940, the Germans made it their headquarters and the Americans bombed the house. This is to give the House some idea of what happened. We in Ireland are inclined to forget that in those years three wars took place and since 1945 there has not been anything like such a European war. On that entire area of neutrality and of the belief that we can keep peace, we must give credit to the European movement.

Senator Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party):

It is a very positive development that under the terms of the Lisbon treaty, the European Parliament will have the power to elect the President of the Commission. It will not just have the power of assent but will have the power to elect or refuse the nomination of the European Council in respect of the President of the Commission. This will mean that the largest grouping in the European Parliament will have a very important say in future legislation because, as we know, the Commission has the powers of legislative initiative at a European level. If the socialist group is the largest party in the European Parliament, we are likely to see a socialist-inclined President of the European Commission which could have a significant impact on the type of legislation we could expect to see proposed by the Commission. It is an important new power for the European Parliament and should concentrate the minds of the European electorate on the fact that the people they elect to the European Parliament in June 2009 will have an important say in the composition of the Commission and, therefore, the overall legislative output of the European Union

---
Source:
Parliamentry Reports, Seanad Debates, Vol. 189 No. 1 - Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Why I love David Norris

During the debate on the Order of Business an argument broke out between Senator Dan Boyle (Green Party) and Senator Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) on the issue of Cork Airport. Senator David Norris (Independent) quip is the reason why he is in the house and why he should remain there! There are tears in my eyes! I wish I was there, though I would have been kicked out of the gallery.

Senator Dan Boyle: The House can have a valuable debate on this to support the cause. (Hes talking about the Olympics here)

The second debate I call for has more local significance, although it has national importance. A report has just been produced on the national aviation strategy, particularly on Cork Airport and its relationship with Dublin Airport. It was compiled by Mr. Peter Cassells on behalf of the Government. While it attempts to employ the wisdom of Solomon in dealing with the problem-----


Senator Jerry Buttimer: The Green Party in Lisbon----- (had me giggling, but not too much)


Senator Dan Boyle: -----there are wider issues that need to be debated in this Chamber.


Senator Jerry Buttimer: Is the Senator supporting the Government?


An Cathaoirleach: Senator Boyle without interruption.


Senator Jerry Buttimer: Is the Senator supporting the Government?


Senator Dan Boyle: I am surprised the Senator even needs to ask that question.


Senator Jerry Buttimer: Is the Senator reneging on the people of Cork?


Senator Dan Boyle: Am I not sitting on this side of the Chamber?


Senator Jerry Buttimer: Is the Senator turning his back on the people of Cork?


An Cathaoirleach: Senator Boyle without interruption.


Senator Jerry Buttimer: He is turning his back on the people of Cork.


An Cathaoirleach: Senator Buttimer should not be interrupting.


Senator Dan Boyle: There is a certain Senator who sometimes believes a meeting in this Chamber is a meeting of the Cork GAA county board. There should be a better sense of decorum.


Senator Jerry Buttimer: What is wrong with the GAA? The Senator was never involved so he would not know about it. The Senator should not be denigrating Cork. He is in enough trouble as it is.


Senator David Norris: Could someone tell me what is the GAA? Is it a political organisation? (Was laughing so hard, tears were flowing down my face!)


An Cathaoirleach: The Senators should speak seriously on the Order of Business. I ask Senator Boyle to continue without interruption.

Norris for Life Senator!!!

Hans-Gert Pöttering, Speech in the Seanad

Here is the text of Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament's Address to Seanàd Éireann. He is the second President of the Parliament to Address the upper house, Pat Cox being the first back in October 2002.

A Chathaoirligh agus a Sheanadóirí, is mór an onóir dom a bheith anseo inniu libh san áras ársa seo. For your benefit and mine, I will continue in English. It is even more for my benefit that I do so.

On behalf of the European Parliament, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind invitation. Let me at the outset thank Members of Seanad Éireann here today for inviting me to address your Chamber. This is a great honour for me and the European Parliament. As the leader of one democratic institution to Members of another I say, “Thank you.” As President of the European Parliament, I hope to visit every one of the 27 member states of the EU during my two and a half year term of office.

I am delighted to be here in Ireland at a very important time in the context of the future development of the European Union. The last President of the European Parliament to address the Irish Seanad was Mr. Pat Cox, as mentioned by the Cathaoirleach. He was a great ambassador for the European Union during his tenure of office. We worked in an excellent way together on the basis of common ideals and goals. Pat Cox was an extraordinary President of the European Parliament.

I am, if Members will allow me to say, one of only six members of the European Parliament who have been there without interruption since the first direct elections were held in 1979.

Over the past 29 years I have made many Irish friends in Europe, many of whom have held very high office at European level. I started my work in 1979 in the regional committee which was and is so important for Ireland. The co-ordinator for my group was Mr. Tom O’Donnell who has been always a good friend. I am happy to see here Mary Banotti, with whom I also worked closely in the European Parliament.

Mr. Peter Sutherland was an inspiring member of the European Commission. He revolutionised the European airline industry by opening up the European airline sector to competition in the 1980s. We have all seen the clear success of this policy with cheaper air fares. As an island nation, the Irish people are aware of the benefits of this policy more than most.

Mr. Ray MacSharry as EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development reformed the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy in 1992. The Common Agricultural Policy was the first truly European Community policy and it remains an important EU-wide initiative in terms of the EU budget and in terms of what it says about a community built on solidarity and human concerns. For Ireland, it is worth €2.2 billion in payments from Europe to Irish farmers and to Irish rural communities during the current financing perspective from 2007 to 2013.

The then Taoiseach, Deputy John Bruton, and the then Tánaiste, Deputy Dick Spring, ran an impressive Irish Presidency of the European Union in 1996. John, who is a good friend of mine with whom I liaised closely during a crucial time as presidency member of the European Convention, the body which drafted the constitutional treaty, is now a very highly respected and influential EU ambassador to the United States of America.

The internal market Commissioner, Mr. Charlie McCreevy, currently heads up economic policy making at European level and in recent times has been dealing with the EU response to current difficulties on the international financial markets.

In the current legislature, Mr. Brian Crowley, MEP, is chairman of the fourth largest political group. He always has been a good and reliable colleague and friend. Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, chaired our committee of inquiry into equitable life insurance. Ms Avril Doyle, MEP, has been just nominated rapporteur on the emission trading scheme and will steer through parliament this key piece of EU climate change legislation.

I have a good working relationship with the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs, Deputy Dick Roche, and with the Leader of the Fine Gael Party, Deputy Enda Kenny, who is from the same pan-European political family as myself. I must be more objective, but I am sure Members will allow me to mention that. Deputy Enda Kenny is now the vice president of the European People’s Party.

Not only is Ireland a long-standing member of the European Union since 1973, it is a leading member of the Union and is playing a key role in policy making at a European level. I recall - if I as a German am allowed to say this in this important Chamber - when we were in the process of German unification following the fall of the Berlin Wall, that the crucial decisions were taken in Dublin during the 1990 Irish Presidency under the Government of the then Taoiseach, Deputy Charles Haughey, and the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Gerry Collins. I was told he is here but I have not seen him.

I mention him although I did not know he was present. They seized the historical momentum and carefully sought the agreement of the European partners.

The current secretary general of the European Commission is an Irish woman, Ms Catherine Day. The country has important ladies in office. I have just come from the castle - I do not know if that is the appropriate word to describe it - but it is a beautiful house where I met Madam President, Mary McAleese, a short while ago. The previous secretary general of the European Commission was also one of your countrymen, Mr. David O’Sullivan.

In 2004, when we had an Irish President of the Parliament, an Irish President of the Council and an Irish secretary general of the Commission, I recall thinking the Irish have taken over the place, but they have done so with charm, good humour and remarkable efficiency. I thank the Members for this. They should take over the leadership of the European Union more often; the so-called bigger countries would learn a great deal from the Irish.

Ireland has been a highly respected member of the European Union from day one. Many countries, particularly the former Communist countries of Central and Easter Europe who acceded to the Union in 2004 during the Irish Presidency of the European Union, look on this country as a role model in Europe. When I travel to countries such as Poland, Lithuania or Slovakia, I hear people talk about the Irish model of making the most out of the opportunities presented by EU membership and turning their countries into economic success stories. Ireland has left its mark on the Union in many ways.

One policy where Irish influence is very strong in Europe is in the area of development aid. Ireland is the sixth largest contributor of development aid per capita in the world. It will contribute €922 million in development aid this year. As a country that was once poor, but which has grown wealthy within Europe, Ireland has not forgotten what it was to be without. Ireland has been a shining example in a Union which itself shows the way to the rest of the world, and it can be proud of this.

The role of Irish NGOs in overseeing and participating in many EU development aid programmes at all times deserves the highest of praise. Many of these volunteers from civil and religious society work in extremely difficult environments. The European Union seeks to promote democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law around the world. The European Union project is a force for peace. The EU has brought peace to the continent of Europe after two very destructive world wars in the 20th century. As a German, born in September 1945 and growing up in the aftermath of the evil destruction of the Second World War and the Holocaust, my personal commitment to the European project was shaped by the determination of visionaries such as Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, Aldice de Gasperi and others, that never again should there be war between the peoples of Europe. Schuman’s dream that war should not only be morally repugnant but also made materially impossible, has been made a reality. This is unique, not only in European history, but in world history also, and is the basis of our European engagement.

I support the European Union participating in peacekeeping operations around the world, with the backing of the United Nations. EU peacekeeping missions have successfully served in ATSI, Indonesia, Palestine, Bosnia and Kosovo. Having brought peace to our continent, I am proud that we are helping to build a global peace. The 4,500-strong EU peacekeeping mission is now being deployed in Chad. This mission will help to address many of the humanitarian problems at present being faced by the 300,000 refugees in the camps in eastern Chad. The men, women and children in these camps have fled from the barbarity of the genocide that is taking place in Sudan. The international community must continue to do more to stop militia attacks against the people of Darfur. This EU peacekeeping operation, with United Nations support, is under the strong leadership of an Irishman, Lt. General Patrick Nash, and will help to bring stability and peace to Chad and the volatile central African region.

The European Union aims to help build a world where peace and understanding triumph over hostility and despair. On the 50th anniversary of Ireland first taking part in United Nations peacekeeping, I should like to pay tribute to all the Irish Army personnel who have served - and continue to serve - on some 75 UN missions to date. The Irish flag has flown together with the United Nations banner in many parts of the world, and I am sure it will continue to do so for many years to come.

By good fortune, my first visit to Ireland as President of the European Parliament is within a few days of the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This is a useful occasion to reflect on the role that the European Union has played in bringing peace and reconciliation to the island of Ireland. Irish and British membership of the European Union undoubtedly provided the common space that helped to build the close relations between political leaders. These close relations, in turn, helped create the conditions in which peace could flourish.

Since 1995, the European Union has also contributed more than €1.65 billion in financial support to promote economic and social regeneration within the Border counties and in Northern Ireland. This support has been given through a variety of funds, including the INTERREG cross-border programme, the EU PEACE fund, mainstream Structural Funds and the International Fund for Ireland. The European Parliament has always overwhelmingly supported strong EU financial aid programmes for Northern Ireland and the Border counties. The peace process in Ireland can and must be used as a model to help resolve other conflicts in Europe and around the world. Ireland has shown that it can achieve peace but that it takes real courage, determination, leadership, understanding and forgiveness.

As a Catholic, I am impressed that the Seanad starts its meetings with a prayer. I am sorry that I was not in the Chamber for it. Personalities who do this can forgive and this is part of our beliefs and values. I congratulate the Members on having the courage to pray in their Chamber. This is a very personal remark and I thank the Members for giving this example.

John Hume, who together with David Trimble won the Nobel Peace Prize, was a great Member of the European Parliament. We worked together from 1979 in the regional committee. He described the European Union itself as the greatest peace process in history. MEPs from Ireland and Northern Ireland have worked and have continued to work together within the European Parliament on issues of common concern, including on EU regional, social and agricultural policy, consumer protection initiatives and cross-border co-operation.

The Single Market has been a great success for the European Union, including Ireland. It has been vital for Ireland as an exporting country with a very open economy. With the elimination of transaction costs, the single European currency, the euro, has brought clear benefits to consumers and businesses alike. We should ask ourselves where Europe would be at this time of economic difficulty, and with trouble on the international financial markets, if the euro did not exist. People are not thinking of the great advantage afforded by the European currency. If our common currency were not an operating currency in 15 different member states, we would be in the same situation we were in 1992 when international currency speculators played one EU currency off against the other.

Let me make some remarks on the reform treaty. When the treaty was signed in Lisbon on 13 December, I spoke about the remarkable growth in democracy in the European Union in the short period since the first European election in 1979. Democracy is a big winner in this treaty. The treaty helps to promote the democratic legitimacy of the European Union. From its starting point as an appointed and consultative Assembly in 1958, the now directly-elected European Parliament has become the true voice of almost 500 million European citizens. It is now an equal player with a Council of Ministers on a range of policy issues. The Lisbon reform treaty will boost our so-called co-decision powers to almost 100% of European policy areas. The treaty also extends the role of national parliaments and gives them, including this House, the guardianship of subsidiarity. Members of the Seanad and their fellow parliamentarians will protect the balance between the Union and the member states.

I would like to dispel the myth that the European Union is all powerful. Under the doctrine of conferral, the European Union has only the powers the different EU treaties drawn up by the member states give it. For example, the EU does not set our tax rates, regardless of what one reads in the newspapers. It does not run our health, education and social services, nor does it decide our citizenship laws. The Union does only those things that the member states have decided to do together since they can achieve better results by acting in common than by acting alone on a national level. The essential secret of the EU’s success is that it is a unique union of member states which respects the interests and rights of all of them, whether they are great or small. I wish that the so-called great countries would appreciate more the work of the smaller countries, from whose behaviour - especially Ireland - they could learn a great deal.

This reform treaty is about ensuring the European Union can become even more democratic, more efficient and more effective in how it will carry out its business into the future. Strong European institutions are the best guarantee for the implementation of solidarity and ensuring the concerns of all member states, large, medium and small alike, are taken into consideration.

The European Union must face up to new challenges such as ensuring climate change targets are met on time, energy supplies are protected, greater co-operation at an EU level to tackle cross-border drug smuggling, confronting organised crime and defeating international terrorism. These challenges are clearly too large for any one country to meet and therefore we must meet them the European way by pooling our resources and working together.

I will make some remarks on climate change. The European Union has promised to lead the world towards a global post-Kyoto agreement with binding targets. The eyes of the world will be on us throughout 2008 and 2009 until Copenhagen. We must fulfil these expectations. I recently visited the United Nations and the Secretary General and all other people I met there asked us - and they support us - to take a real leadership. To take leadership in a question of preserving the environment or, as I would prefer to say, preserving the creation is a wonderful, peaceful leadership we have the responsibility to accept.

With the energy package, the European Union now has a sound and credible policy framework for achieving the goals it has set itself. Putting the European Union on the path to a low-carbon future certainly demands a considerable commitment, but it also brings real opportunities for growth and increased competitiveness. If the European Union manages to take the lead in environmental-friendly technologies such as carbon capture and storage, this would give it a decisive competitive edge on the global market.

To fulfil its role as European co-legislator and to be able to make well-informed choices, in April last year the European Parliament established the Temporary Committee on Climate Change. This committee will play a critical role in achieving a deal on the energy package. We want to achieve a result before the European elections in June 2009 and thus in time for the United Nations conference which will take place in Copenhagen the following December. If we do not succeed in this, the Europeans will not have a position and this conference might fail. Therefore, the work in the European Parliament is important and I ask all of the Senators to support us.

Adopting the energy package as soon as possible is also a matter of credibility, as the European Union’s role as leader in the fight against climate change is not just about setting targets. If we want to be able to convince our partners world wide to participate in a global and binding framework, we will have to deliver.

The European Parliament has overwhelmingly endorsed the Lisbon reform treaty. I wish to state clearly that I fully support this treaty, as indeed I backed the earlier constitutional treaty which was agreed under the skilful negotiations of the 2004 Irish Presidency. However, I also wish to make it clear that the method of ratification in each of the 27 member states is a matter for that country alone. Ratification through national parliaments is as equally valid and legitimate as the referendum due to be held in Ireland by virtue of its Constitution.

I firmly believe that it is in the future economic and political interest of the European Union as a whole that this treaty be ratified. This House will understand that I will be hoping for a “Yes” vote by the Irish electorate on referendum day. However, this is, of course, a decision that only the Irish voters can make and it is not up to me or any other person to tell them how to vote.

I trust in the wisdom of the Irish electorate which is perhaps the best-informed electorate in the EU about European matters. This is in no small way due to its excellent National Forum on Europe under the very fair and able chairmanship of a former Member of this House, Maurice Hayes. I pay tribute to him and the work of his excellent body.

This is yet another area where Ireland has shown leadership. Many European countries have followed by creating such mechanisms to involve citizens and civil society in EU policymaking.

If the House allows it, I urge that a balanced and reasoned debate during this referendum campaign takes place in Ireland over the coming weeks. All interested parties need to be given space to air their views. I hope that scare tactics and falsehoods are avoided. I hear from colleagues from the European Parliament who mislead the Irish people. We should reject this.

I am a believer in the defence of human life. If somebody says that this is affected by European law and this reform treaty, it is not true. The matter of how Ireland protects life is a matter for Irish policy. I say this as a Catholic. I defend Ireland’s position. Ireland should not believe these people and should look into their backgrounds, from where they received their education and what they want to tell today. I am very outspoken because I am annoyed by what I sometimes read and hear, particularly from one colleague from the European Parliament.

As Members of the Upper House of the Irish Parliament, I am sure that Members will all take a particular interest in the provisions of the Lisbon treaty that, for the first time, give a legally guaranteed role to national parliaments in the EU legislative process. The European Parliament greatly welcomes this development as we see the national parliaments as our partners in ensuring strong parliamentarianism, which is key to democratic control over the executive branch of government. It is on this basis that we organise regular joint parliamentary meetings of the European Parliament and national parliaments so that we can co-operate on such issues of concern to our electorates as climate change, the cultural dialogue and the Lisbon strategy.

While economic integration is an ongoing process at an EU level, the European Union has always been conscious of the need to ensure that cultural, linguistic and national diversities are fully protected and promoted within a European context. Unity in diversity is our ambition. On 1 January 2007, the Irish language - Gaelic - became an official language of the European Union following a proposal by the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, and supported by all 27 EU governments. This is another example of how the EU respects and promotes diversity.

In conclusion, where injustice rears its ugly head around the world and where there are breaches of human rights, Europe must speak out, regardless of whether these take place in Israel, Palestine, Tibet, Zimbabwe, Guantanamo Bay or Belarus, which is the last Stalinist dictatorship in Europe. Let us never forget that the eastern part of our continent lived in a situation in which Belarus is still living and it is our duty to defend the people in their peaceful fight for democracy and legal order. Let us not forget the people of Belarus.

Speaking with one voice, representing 500 million people and 27 different countries, the EU can and should play a more influential role on the international stage. The European Union can be a strong voice and a force for peace, freedom, justice and democracy. Europe is a force for good, but we must keep communicating to the people of Europe so that they can fully understand what work is being carried out at a political level in the European Union. We can look on the achievements of those who founded the European Union with a great sense of pride. From an initial six member states in 1957 there are now 27 members with many other European countries seeking membership of the Union. This is a serious sign that Europe is heading in the right direction. The people in Ireland can look on their achievements in Europe with a great sense of pride. They have brought common sense, innovation and commitment to the European decision-making table, and in the name of the European Parliament I thank Ireland and its people for the great Irish contribution to European unity.

A former Member of this House, Michael Yeats, was a member of the pre-1979 European Parliament. His father, Ireland’s great national poet, W. B. Yeats, of course also served his country as a Member of Seanad Éireann and I would like to conclude by quoting some lines of one of his most beautiful poems. For me these lines bring to mind the delicate nature of what we have constructed together in Europe, inspired by the dreams and visions of that great post-war generation:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

An excellent speech that was followed by a question and answer session

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Source:
Parliamentry Reports, Seanad Debates, Vol. 189 No. 1 - Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Upcoming EU Business in the Oireachtas

Seanad Éireann to be addressed by Habs Gert Pottering

Seanad Éireann resumes after its recess tomorrow and according to the Order of Business Hans Gert Pottering is to address Seanad Éireann at 10.30am. Mr Pottering is the former leader of the European Peoples Party in the European Parliament and is currently President of the European Parliament. I will attempt to live blog his speech which will be availible on Oirechtas Live. I assume there will be a question and answer session or a sos (break for non Irish speakers), but it is not scheduled before the start of ordinary business. If I do not live blog it, I will post highlights from it.

Seanad Éireann will also see statements on the Reform Treaty after the Order of Business.

Dáil to resume debating the Reform Treaty

Meanwhile the Dáil will resume its second stage debate on the Reform Treaty tomorrow evening after Leaders Questions. The debate is scheduled to last until thursday at 13:00. I will of course try to keep up my posting of snippets of contributions of the debate. Wednesday will see the debate resume after Leaders Questions and Questions to the Taoiseach. Wednesday will also see a statement from Department of the Taoiseach on the European Council. On Thursday the final day of debate will start first thing after the Order of Business. The bill will then move onto Committee stage, where both Labour and Fine Gael have mentioned the prospect of amendments.

EU Business at Committee Level

This week sees the, Joint Committee on European Scrutiny and the Joint Committee on European Affairs meeting in Public on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday the Joint Committee on European Affairs will hear submissions on the The Lisbon Reform Treaty from VoteNo.ie, Peace and Neutrality Alliance and the People's Movement. They will meet at 14:00 in Committee Room 1, Leinster House 2000. The Joint Committee on European Scrutiny will meet in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 to discuss Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals.

On Thursday both Committees will be meeting again. The Joint Committee on European Affairs will hold Public Deliberations on The Lisbon Reform Treaty at 20:00 in Room QG 13, Business School, Dublin City University. Members of the public are invited to attend and contribute to the Committee's deliberations. The Joint Committee on European Scrutiny will be scrutinising EU Legislative Proposals. They will be discussing:
* COM (2007) 697 re common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, 2002/19/EC on access to, and interconnection of electronic communications networks and services, and 2002/20/EC on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services.
* COM (2007) 698 re universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks, Directive 2002/58/EC concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector and Regulation (EC) No. 2006/2004 on consumer protection co-operation
* COM (2007) 699 re the European Electronic Communication Market Authority

On European Electronic Communication Market Authority there will be submissions from Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Commission for Communications Regulation, eircom, The Telecommunications and Internet Federation and The Irish Cellular Industry Association.

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Source:
This Week in the Houses of the Oireachtas 7 -11 April 2008