OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE:THE HOUSES of the Oireachtas should look to the European Parliament as an example of an institution which succeeded, despite opposition from governments, in extending "the envelope of its powers", former finance minister Alan Dukes has said.
The Dáil and Seanad should seek the same kind of “mission creep”, he told a subcommittee on the review of the role of the Oireachtas in European affairs chaired by Fine Gael TD Lucinda Creighton.
Mr Dukes said it was “essential” that the Oireachtas “get on to the same playing-pitch” as the Brussels lobby groups when it came to preparing for EU legislation.
“The process of legislation in the EU is more open than we are used to here,” he said. This openness presented opportunities that had been used very effectively by lobby-groups and the Oireachtas should take similar advantage.
There should be a “division of labour” among the Oireachtas committees and proper co-ordination on European issues. Ministers should not be meeting committees at the last minute before council meetings in Brussels, there should be contact before then.
Former taoiseach John Bruton said the Oireachtas was a “highly competitive place” and these competing forces should be “harnessed” when it came to scrutiny of EU affairs.
“Garret FitzGerald said to me, you can achieve whatever it is you want so long as you can convince the EU that is good for them.” The European Commission was going to propose that it have more powers to look at the development and competitiveness of member states “in order to make sure they don’t go the way of Greece”.
The Oireachtas could play a part in ensuring good governance. If the commission was obliged to consult committees of the national parliament, which include members of the Opposition, this would be more effective than imposing fines.
It was “vital” that committees appoint “rapporteurs” to specialise in particular issues. The regular reports from the parliamentary liaison officer in Brussels would keep members up to date on developments.
Recalling his time as a minister, Mr Bruton said civil servants would present him with a brief on a particular issue just as he was getting on a flight to Brussels, but if a minister had to appear before an Oireachtas committee, he or she would have to be given the brief much earlier.
Mary O’Rourke TD (Fianna Fáil) agreed with Mr Dukes on European legislation. “We come in on it all too late.” This was “heresy, of course” to the Civil Service.
The scrutiny powers given to the national parliaments were “one of the most important outcomes of Lisbon”.
Joe Costello TD (Labour) said there had been “not a single discussion on the Greek bailout in the Dáil”. He also said the Seanad should have a greater involvement in European affairs.
