All-party group to analyse Irish role in Europe

LISBON TREATY:AN ALL-PARTY sub-committee, which will report by the end of November, has been established to "chart a way forward for Ireland in Europe" following the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.

Introducing a Dáil motion to establish the sub-committee of the European Affairs committee, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said it would have a "key contribution" to make.

The new group will analyse the challenges facing the State in the EU and Ireland's future including its influence within the European institutions. It will make recommendations to enhance the role of the Houses of the Oireachtas in EU affairs and consider measures to improve public understanding of the "fundamental importance" of the EU.

The Minister said the "referendum campaign has not shaken Ireland's belief in the union".

He warned: "We cannot pretend that our position in the Union has been unaffected by the outcome. Nor can we pretend the result has gone unnoticed in the wider world beyond Europe, particularly the international investment community."

Sinn Féin was the only Dáil party to oppose the referendum and the party's Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin said that, while the party would take a positive approach, it "will not be part of any choreography to set aside the democratic wishes of the Irish electorate".

Fine Gael spokesman Billy Timmins stressed that the committee "is not about prosecuting the case for or against Lisbon but about adhering strictly to its terms of reference". He said that "we have had seismic developments here in recent days. In one respect it can be said that it vindicates the view that one can look after one's own economic affairs."

Fine Gael's European affairs spokeswoman Lucinda Creighton said: "A disservice has been done to the public in recent months in that politicians have not spelled out the implications of the No vote for citizens."

Chairman of the European Affairs committee Bernard Durkan said there had to be a concerted effort by the Oireachtas "to do the job the public wants it to do in ensuring there is transparency and accountability in respect of the EU institutions".

Labour spokeswoman Joanna Tuffy said: "I still believe there was a fundamental fear among the public that we might be ceding too much power to the EU, although they might not have known exactly how."