European Affairs:

As a former Member of the European Parliament, I have a deep interest in European Union Affairs. The EU plays a huge role in all our lives and I honoured to be able to play a role in scrutinising it.

The committee considers the following issues:

• Ireland’s membership of the European Union

• Ireland’s adherence to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the  European Union

• The European Commission’s strategic planning documents including the Commission Work Programme

• Cross-sectoral policy developments at European level

• Matters listed for consideration on the agenda for meetings of the General Affairs Council of Ministers and the outcome of such meetings

• Regulations under the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2009 and other instruments made under statute and necessitated by the obligations of membership of the European Union as the Committee may select

• Referrals from the Dáil

• Notifications of proposals for the amendment of the Treaties received from the European Council pursuant to Art 48.2 of the Treaty on European Union

• Notifications of applications for membership of the European Union received from the European Council pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union