Oireachtas group denies information came from pro-treaty source

THE CHAIRMAN of the Oireachtas Subcommittee on Ireland's Future in the European Union has rejected a claim that the group took information from a pro-Lisbon Treaty source in preparing its report on the aftermath of the constitutional referendum.

Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe yesterday described the Dublin European Institute, which was commissioned to write a discussion paper for the subcommittee, as an impartial academic institution with expertise in the area of European policy.

He added that the work was done on a pro-bono basis.

The Senator was responding to comments by former Green MEP Patricia McKenna, who told a press conference in Dublin: "I find it quite astonishing that the subcommittee commissioned work from a very pro-treaty source and then based its key recommendations on that work."

Speaking on behalf of the anti-Lisbon group, the People's Movement, Ms McKenna pointed out that the institute, which is based at University College Dublin, had provided the discussion document, Ireland's Future in Europe: Scenarios and Implications, following a commission from the all-party subcommittee.

"I would question the legitimacy of the subcommittee commissioning such a study from a source that is clearly biased in favour of the treaty and I call on the chairman of the subcommittee to declare if the subcommittee commissioned this report at taxpayers' expense," Ms McKenna said.

Responding in a statement, Mr Donohoe said: "On agreement by the subcommittee it decided to commission the DEI to prepare a document which would objectively help to inform the committee of the range of options available regarding Ireland's relationship with the EU.

"The DEI is an impartial, purely academic institution with recognised expertise in the area of European policy.

It was agreed by the subcommittee that the input of such an expert organisation would be helpful to its work.

The DEI's submission made no recommendations regarding re-running the Lisbon Treaty," he added.

Another report, prepared by the Dublin-based Institute of International and European Affairs, which analyses political and legal aspects of different approaches, is being sent to TDs, Senators, government departments, county councils, semi-State bodies and Irish embassies.