Mitchell to head European affairs committee

Gay Mitchell TD was today elected chairman of the new Dail Select Committee on European Affairs.

This Committee (which will become a joint Oireachtas Committee when the Seanad meets) has been given new power to vet in advance proposals for consideration by the EU Council of Ministers and COREPER (the EU Committee of Permanent Ambassadors).

Deputy Mitchell said today: "The new powers of the committees, to be matched by committee resources for research and legal advice etc, will go a long way to addressing what has been a 'democratic deficit'.

"The Committee will take the Committee Stage of the Nice Treaty referendum Bill in September, consider in advance legislation and regulatory and policy proposals. It will examine the outcome of negotiations on such proposals and will refer certain proposals to the Oireachtas Committees which "shadow" specific departments.

"The Committee will also take a close interest in the Convention on the next Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) for future EU evolution; setting priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency in 2004; the workings of EMU, as well as enlargement and similar matters," he said.