Accountable to Oireachtas

Taoiseach and Government Ministers Must Be Accountable to Oireachtas on Key EU Decisions -Oireachtas Committee Report




13th July 2010



Changes need to be made to legislation so that the Taoiseach and Government Ministers are accountable for and get input from Oireachtas members before arriving at decisions of major significance to Ireland at EU level, an Oireachtas Committee report has recommended today.



A report published today by a Sub-Committee of European Affairs and European Scrutiny Committees, chaired by Lucinda Creighton TD makes a series of recommendations which would overhaul the current system of interaction between the Houses of the Oireachtas and the EU.



In total, the report makes twenty-eight recommendations which aim to address the disconnect which exists between Oireachtas business and the EU and advises how best to exploit the new powers granted to the Oireachtas under the Lisbon Treaty.



Among its proposals is a requirement that in future, Ministers must attend the relevant Oireachtas Committee to explain their decisions and get input from TDs and Senators prior to their attendance at upcoming EU Council meetings. It also suggests that the Taoiseach should answer questions in the D il in advance of EU Summit meetings and not after as is the current practice.



Sub-Committee Chairperson, Lucinda Creighton TD said;

“The current system whereby the majority Government Ministers do not account to the Oireachtas on decisions they take on behalf of Ireland at EU meetings is highly undemocratic. It also feeds into this notion of a “democratic deficit” existing between Ireland and the EU.



Often, these decisions have huge ramifications for Ireland and the present arrangement whereby such decisions are presented as a fait accompli and are merely rubberstamped by the Oireachtas is an affront to the democratic process.



Under our proposals, not only will these key decisions have to be explained and justified, but TDs and Senators will now have the opportunity to influence the position of the Irish Government on these crucial matters.



Some of the other recommendations include:



To coincide with Europe Day (9th May), the D il should set aside a week for debates on EU related topics.

The Seanad should be given an increased role in monitoring how EU laws are implemented into Irish law.

The introduction of a scrutiny reserve system to ensure that Ministers take account of the views of Oireachtas Committees before agreeing to new EU laws.

The Oireachtas Committees on EU Affairs and EU Scrutiny should be amalgamated.

Mainstreaming of EU matters into all Oireachtas committees and onto the floor of D il and Seanad ireann

An EU information kiosk should be established in the lobby of Leinster House.

Roll out of a schools education outreach programme by the EU.



Lucinda Creighton TD said;

“The Lisbon Treaty has enhanced the role of national parliaments and given them greater influence. The challenge now is to put arrangements in place to exploit these new entitlements.



Our Committee has concluded that the current system should be improved in order to take advantage of these new privileges and significant reforms must now be introduced. These reforms will bring greater democratic accountability to Ireland’s membership of the EU and in turn will encourage greater public discourse and understanding of EU issues.



The Oireachtas can lead the way in bridging a disconnect that has often been felt between the people and the European Union. An enhanced role for the Oireachtas in European Affairs can only enhance democratic participation and democratic accountability. Should the committee’s recommendations be implemented, I am confident that a more engaged and transparent relationship between the Oireachtas and the EU will inevitably follow.



During its deliberations, the Committee heard from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, former Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, former Taoiseach, John Bruton, past President of the European Parliament Pat Cox and other relevant groups.



The report has been laid in D il and Seanad ireann for their consideration and will be forwarded to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.



For a full copy of the report see www.oireachtas.ie