THE LABOUR Party has called for the introduction of new measures to ensure that Government Ministers cannot 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 in operation in a number of other member states, to make sure that the Oireachtas is not sidelined by the 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.
At the publication of the submission in Dublin yesterday, the party’s spokesman on European affairs, Joe Costello, said the treaty provides for an enhanced role for national parliaments in EU decision-making.
Mr Costello added however, that the Oireachtas played “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,” he said.
“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 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.”
The Labour Party said Mr Cowen should be obliged to brief TDs before attending such meetings and engage with the Oireachtas in debate on issues of national concern.
In addition, the Labour Party also called for the setting up of a new vocational panel consisting of five Senators to give a greater role for the Seanad in the transposition of legislative proposals into domestic law.
The Labour 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, Labour 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.
