Theresa Reidy: Electing one-term MEPs makes Ireland weaker in Europe

Ireland tends to have a high turnover of MEPs, with people serving for just one or two terms, and for many it is a stepping stone to election to the Dáil, but influence in Europe is built up over time

EU laws have Irish input but that influence could be stronger. Picture: Getty

Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission, was ultimately responsible for the factoid (dodgy fact) that 80% of national laws begin their life in the EU institutions. 

Delors’ point about national laws was a prediction but it is regularly proclaimed as fact. Lots of research has examined this assertion and shown that the proportion of national laws shaped by EU legislation is often much lower.