THE OIREACHTAS Joint Committee on European Affairs convened for the first time at a location outside Dublin last night, holding a public forum on the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum in Galway city.
Described by committee chairman Bernard Durkan TD as "a very historic event, bringing the parliament of the people to the people", it was the first of a number of nationwide forums being held in advance of the treaty referendum on June 12th.
Dr Laurent Pech, Jean Monnet Lecturer in EU Law at NUI Galway, told the gathering the Lisbon Treaty was not a "radical treaty" and that it simply had the goal of improving the decision-making process of the European Union.
Dr Pech said he found criticism of the treaty to be "misguided", and having studied European law for 15 years he believed ratification would provide more - not less - power to the Irish Government.
"The new treaty gives a greater role and formalises for the first time the importance of national parliaments . . . national parliaments will have the power to simply say no when it comes to adopting particular legislation," he said.
Arguments against ratifying the treaty were presented by Barry Finnegan, lecturer in the journalism and media faculty at Griffith College Dublin, who questioned what benefits would result from the treaty.
Mr Finnegan cited concern at the impact the treaty would have on workers' rights and questioned how positive an impact it would have on the environment.
While he said pro-Lisbon Treaty parties were giving the impression that "the whole world will be saved if we vote yes to this treaty", he argued that it did not adequately address the issue of climate change.
"There are six extra words to do with the environment in this treaty - it doesn't put the environment at the heart of trade or economic policy," he said.
The chairman of the European Affairs Scrutiny Committee, John Perry, said he wanted to assure everybody that the power of the Oireachtas would not be affected by ratifying the treaty.
"The big issue of Lisbon is the reform and tidying up of regulations and giving enhanced power back to Leinster House
"EU directives will not be imposed on Ireland without a clear distinctive analysis that will bring good law to Ireland," Mr Perry said.