Labour calls for enhanced Oireachtas role

The Labour Party has called for the introduction of new measures to ensure that Government ministers can not adopt EU legislation without giving the Oireachtas sufficient opportunity to scrutinise it.

The party is proposing the establishment of a scrutiny reserve system, similar to that already in operation in a number of other Member States, to make sure that the Oireachtas is not sidelined by Government during decision making.

The proposal is contained in a submission to an Oireachtas sub-committee on European Affairs on the role of the Oireachtas after the signing of the Lisbon treaty.

Speaking at the publication of the submission in Dublin earlier today, the party's spokesman on European affairs, Joe Costello, said the treaty provides for an enhanced role for national parliaments in EU decision making. He added, however, that the Oireachtas plays "a largely passive role in EU matters at present".

"We have a very strong government, a very strong executive and a rather weak parliament, particularly in relation to European affairs," said Mr Costello.

“The Taoiseach and Government Ministers make decisions in Brussels and transpose EU legislative proposals into domestic legislation with little or no reference to the Oireachtas.”

Mr Costello said it was an "insult" to the Oireachtas to see the Taoiseach Brian Cowen briefing the Oireachtas after attending European Council meetings.

"At present the Taoiseach attends monthly meetings of the European Council and merely informs the Dáil of the Council's conclusions a week or two later. This is worse than useless in terms of Oireachtas oversight and accountability," he said.

The Labour Party said the Taoiseach should be obliged to brief TDs prior to attending such meetings and engage with the Oireachtas in debate on issues of national concern.

In addition, the party also called for the setting up of a new vocational panel consisting of five Senators in order to give a greater role for the Seanad in the transposition of legislative proposals into domestic law.

The party said the Oireachtas should devote a full week each year to debating major issues of concern to Ireland such as the Draft Annual Work Programme. Additionally, it called for a greater number of outreach programmes, meetings and competitions to encourage public participation in EU affairs, and the establishment of an information office in the grounds of Leinster House.