Opposition criticise Government’s EU stance

The Government came under fire from opposition leaders today for its contradictory stance on the European Union.

Speaking at the Humbert Summer School in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Labour leader Mr Ruairi Quinn said fostering active EU citizenship was a challenge.

"In Ireland that challenge has been made more difficult by the confused and contradictory messages that senior members of the Government have sent out regarding our place in the European Union," he said.

The Labour leader set out three initiatives which the Government should take to address Irish citizens’ relationship with the EU.

Mr Quinn urged legislative priority for the party’s EU Bill 2001: "The European Union Bill enhances scrutiny by the Oireachtas of measures proposed to be taken by the Council of Ministers. The Oireachtas will have to review proposed EU directives, regulations or conventions before an Irish Minister can agree to them at Council of Ministers level."

Mr Quinn also said televising the EU Council of Ministers meetings would lead to more openness.

He said EU citizens have a right to see the institutions of the EU at work. "Citizens across Europe have the opportunity to watch the deliberations of national parliaments. The deliberations of the EU Council of Ministers should be no different," he added.

Lastly, Mr Quinn said anti-EU statements from some Ministers were confusing citizens with comments from "both sides of their mouths" regarding our relationship with the EU.

Also speaking at the Humbert School, Fine Gael party leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said confusion surrounding the Nice treaty showed the need for a new approach to the conduct of referendums.

"The Nice ‘debate’, such as it was, was confused because of lack of time and by the fact red herrings were wrongly accorded the status of valid arguments against the Treaty," he said.

He suggested that the "impossible position" of the Referendum Commission be reviewed. "It was given far too little time to produce information and arguments for and against three separate, unrelated constitutional proposals," Mr Noonan said.

The Summer School continues this afternoon.