FG senator to chair committee studying Lisbon fallout

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny this morning announced the appointment of Senator Paschal Donohoe as chairman of the new Oireachtas…

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny this morning announced the appointment of Senator Paschal Donohoe as chairman of the new Oireachtas sub-Committee to examine Ireland’s role in the EU following the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

This all-party committee, which will sit for eight weeks, will report to the Joint Committee on European Affairs after studying issues that arose during the referendum campaign, and ways to improve public understanding of European issues.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Kenny said: “This committee has a challenging remit in a very short time frame, and I know that Senator Donohoe will lead it with great commitment and fairness.

"Its work will have an important bearing on the decision to be taken ultimately regarding Ireland’s future approach to the Lisbon Treaty.”

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Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins TD and European spokeswoman, Lucinda Creighton TD will also represent Fine Gael on the committee.

Introducing a Dáil motion to establish the sub-committee of the committee, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said it would have a "key contribution" to make. He added that the "referendum campaign has not shaken Ireland's belief in the union".

The new group 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.