  EU Constitution: Ministerial Presentation
Deputy Allen:   This meeting will clash with questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs at 2. + Chairman: I thank the Deputy. Since that is the case, if the Minister of State, Deputy +++++ Deputy Allen: I would like to make one or two points before I leave. I am sorry that I have ++ Deputy Quinn: When the delegates assembled in Philadelphia, the Scots-Irish in the backwoods +++++ Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Treacy): It is always good to attend the committee and hear what my colleagues have to ++++++++++ ++ Chairman: The Minister referred to the Referendum Commission. Members are aware it will +++ Deputy Ó Snodaigh: I apologise if I am forced to leave the meeting early to deal with a priority +++ Deputy Treacy: I appreciate what Deputy Ó Snodaigh has said and am delighted members +++ Deputy Ó Snodaigh: We can have that debate. Deputy Treacy: We can do so. However, the important issue is to get the message across. Deputy Ó Snodaigh: Is the Referendum Commission called when the Bill is published or when it is + Deputy Treacy: Once a Bill is published and lodged with Dáil Éireann, the + Deputy Ó Snodaigh: Is it true that the earlier the Government publishes the Bill, the earlier the + Deputy Treacy: Yes. Chairman: Members of the commission have made the point in the past that a difficulty for + Deputy Ó Snodaigh: I agree. Deputy Treacy: The commission was positive in this regard in its last report. Chairman: Yes, the report observed that this was the first time the commission was given + Senator Ormonde: I welcome the opportunity to have this debate. Most of the relevant issues have ++++ Chairman: Does the Minister of State have anything to say on “wordy” words? Deputy Treacy: I do. I agree with Senator Ormonde this is an important element of the + Chairman: Senator Ormonde made a good point to which the Minister of State has given his ++ Deputy Treacy: I have listened to the requests made today. Everybody has a desire that all our + Deputy D. Wallace: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming before the committee ++ Deputy Treacy: I thank Deputy Wallace for his comments. The Taoiseach is committed to this + Senator Quinn: I support what Senator Ormonde said about the simplicity aspect. Deputy Wallace ++++ Deputy Treacy: I am impressed by what Senator Quinn said because he has been a master of + Deputy Andrews: I record that I got lost on a few occasions in Superquinn in Blackrock. Chairman: That is the point, they want you to get lost. Deputy Andrews: One is drawn down to the dairy section at the far end, even though that is the ++++ Deputy Treacy: Deputy Andrews has made a number of valuable points. The McKenna judgment is + Chairman: For the information of members who came in late, we propose to invite in those +++ Deputy Andrews: The Referendum Commission has to present this argument. Chairman: It is not the only body dealing with it. I understand the Deputy’s point. + Deputy Treacy: I thank the Chairman and colleagues. Chairman: We will suspend briefly. Sitting suspended at 2.54 p.m. and resumed at 2.56 p.m. Lisbon Strategy: Presentation. |