Public discussions:TDs and Senators from different parties on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs are to embark on a series of public discussions on the Lisbon Treaty throughout the State in the new year.
The committee will hold meetings "in a number of provincial centres" with the general public being invited to attend, both as observers and participants. The main purpose of the tour will be "to stimulate debate about the treaty".
Speaking at a press conference in Leinster House, committee chairman Bernard Durkan TD of Fine Gael said: "It is appropriate that parliament would engage in a meaningful and active way in a debate of this nature, simply because we are all members of a national parliament and there is an enhanced role for national parliaments encompassed within the treaty."
Green Party Senator Deirdre de Burca said her party was very happy the committee had
decided "to go out and to actually engage with the public and to provide information" because it had "become very evident that there was a huge information deficit out there, and that people really need a lot more guidance and information as to what the treaty is about".
Labour TD Joe Costello said: "What we are doing is pretty much unique. We are bringing parliament out to the people."
