ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS:THE RATIFICATION of the Lisbon Treaty will enhance the role of national parliaments in the political processes of the European Union, according to an Oireachtas committee report published yesterday.
The document, compiled by the Committee on European Scrutiny, says through the treaty, national parliaments are for the first time being given a defined role in EU matters separate to their national governments.
The committee said parliament would be able to examine directives coming from the EU parliament, suggest amendments on a national level and then return its thoughts on the matters to the EU through the State’s MEPs.
Committee chairman John Perry of Fine Gael said this would result in greater representation of citizens through their local parliamentarians. “If the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, this committee will take seriously the task of policing EU institutions, safeguarding Irish interests and increasing democratic oversight.
“Not only will the committee be able to influence Government decision-making on EU issues, but together with other EU national parliaments it will be able to directly influence the decisions of the European Commission and the final decision-making process at EU level,” Mr Perry said.
The scrutiny committee report says the treaty ensures the receipt of information and draft legislation directly from EU institutions, and allows for involvement at national level in any future treaty revision, and wider interparliamentary co-operation.
Provisions of the treaty also enhance the national parliament’s right to information, and its role in both monitoring subsidiarity and evaluating policy in the fields of security and justice, it says.
Fianna Fáil TD Seán Connick said the Lisbon Treaty could strengthen “what was a loose relationship between the Oireachtas and the EU parliament”.
However, Aengus Ó Snodaigh of Sinn Féin said the report “greatly exaggerates the significance of the protocol on national parliaments”.
