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On 1 July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU. This means that for six months, Sweden is leading the EU's work and is responsible for moving important EU issues forward.
The Presidency of the Council rotates between the Member States. The Presidency rotates on a half-yearly basis. The country presiding over the Council functions as the driving force in the EU's legislative and political decision-making process.
The Presidency is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues.
Tuesday 8th December 2009
The Joint Committees on European Affairs and European Scrutiny at a joint meeting on 8 December 2009 agreed the Joint Report on the Implementation of the Lisbon Treaty: Interim arrangements on the enhanced role of the Houses of the Oireachtas
JCEA JCES Report on Implementation of Lisbon Treaty
Joint Committee on European Affairs, Eleventh Report
'The position of Minority Groups in Europe - an examination of Roma policies in the European Union'
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Main Tasks of the Joint Committee
The main task of the Joint Committee is to monitor, review and report on the implications of EU policies for the future of the EU, for the future of Ireland as a member of the EU and for people's daily lives. Read more…
Previous Business
Thursday 21 January 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Council Meetings
Tuesday 12 January 2010
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Dick Roche TD, Minister of State for European Affairs, to discuss the Commission Working Document: Consultation on the Future "EU2020" Strategy
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
- The Green Paper on the European Citizens' Initiative COM (2009) 622
- Contribution to the European Commission on the Green paper on Promoting the learning mobility of young people COM (2009) 329
- Joint Contribution (with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) to the Minister of State Tony Killeen on the Green paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. COM (2009) 163
Thursday 3 December 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Wednesday 25 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Tony Killeen TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food to discuss the Green Paper on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy COM (2009)163.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with representative landowners in the All Saints Bog and Esker SAC, Co. Offaly regarding the implementation of the Habitats Directive.
Thursday 12 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Dick Roche, TD Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Peter Power, TD Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Thursday 5 November 2009
The Joint Committee met with the Equality Rights Alliance to discuss their complaint to the European Commission concerning failure to comply with EU Law in the area of Equality
Tuesday 27 October 2009
The Joint Committee met with H.E. Mr. Borys Bazylevskyi, Ambassador of the Ukraine to Ireland to discuss current developments in the Ukraine, European integration, energy security, the free trade area and bilateral relations with Ireland.
Wednesday 21 October 2009
The Joint Committee met with Mr. Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss
the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting.
Tuesday, 29 September
The Joint Committee held a discussion on the Lisbon Treaty with Minister John Gormley, Leader of the Green Party
Thursday 24th September
The Joint Committee met with Deputy Enda Kenny, Leader of Fine Gael, to continue it’s series of discussions on The Lisbon Treaty
Tuesday, 22nd September
Members met with Deputy Eamon Gilmore, Leader of the Labour Party, to hear his views on The Lisbon Treaty
Thursday 17th September
The JCEA met with Mr. Caoimhghin Ó’Caoláin TD, Leader of Sinn Fein to continue discussions on the Lisbon Treaty
Wednesday 16th September
The Joint Committee met with the Most Reverend Dr. Noel Treanor, Irish Delegate to the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences in the European Community (COMECE) to continue it’s series of discussions on The Lisbon Treaty
Thursday 10th September
Members met with Mr Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Tuesday 8th September
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD to discuss why Ireland needs Europe and The Lisbon Treaty. The Committee also met with Mr Reuf Bajrovic, Bosnian Political Analyst to examine the future of EU Foreign Policy and how to reach peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Members met with Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche TD to discuss the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Thursday 16 July 2009
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with representatives of Amnesty International Ireland to discuss The EU’s Association Agreement with Israel and related matters and also to discuss its contribution to the European Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2010.
Tuesday 30th June
The Committee met with H.E. Mr Claes Ljungdahl Ambassador of Sweden to Irelandto discuss the Priorities of the Swedish Presidency
Tuesday 23rd June
The Joint Committee on European Affairs met with represenatives of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign to discuss The EU’s Association Agreement with Israel and related matters
Thursday 11th June
Members met with Minister Micheál Martin to discuss the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting
Tuesday 19th May
The JCEA held a discussion on the EU Commission Annual Policy Strategy 2010 with representatives of Microsoft Ireland, Forfás, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and ESB International
Thursday 14th May
The Joint Committee hosted a discussion in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council with Mr. Dick Roche, Minister of State for European Affairs
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Tuesday 5th May
Members met with the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka at present
Tuesday 28th April
The Joint Committee was given a presentation by by Mr David Waddell on the Report of the Standards in Public Office Commission,"Third Parties and The Referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon"
Thursday 23rd April
The JCEA held a Discussion on the Forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and also debated the Joint Committee’s Resolution on Ireland’s Eel Management Plan
Oireachtas Oversight of EU Decisions
Useful Links
Houses of the Oireachtas
Europa
COSAC
Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments
IPEX
Irish MEPs
Forthcoming Business
View future meetings of the Joint Committee
Previous Business
View information on previous business of the Joint Committee.
Notice Inviting Submissions on a European Citizens' Initiative
15th January 2009
The Joint Committee were presented with and agreed two motions regarding The Situation in Gaza and the EU / Israel Association Agreement. Reports were laid before both Houses. Please click here to view the reports.
Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in Europe
The Sub-Committee was established following the result of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. The Sub-Committee analysed the challenges facing Ireland following the Lisbon Treaty referendum result and considered Ireland’s future in the EU.
To view the Sub-Committee’s report please click here
Membership of the Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the European Union
Senator Paschal Donohoe, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Thomas Byrne, TD (Fine Fáil)
Joe Costello, TD, (Labour)
Lucinda Creighton, TD (Fine Gael)
Timmy Dooley, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Beverly Flynn, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Michael McGrath, TD (Fianna Fáil)
Billy Timmins, TD (Fine Gael)
Senator Deirdre deBurca (GP)
Senator Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin)
Senator Ronan Mullen, (Independent)
Senator Phil Prendergast, (Lab)
To view the Report on the Joint Committee’s Contribution to the European Commission on its Annual Policy Strategy 2009, please click here
European Youth Parliament
The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, addresses the European Youth Parliament held in Dáil Éireann on 16th November 2007.
Watch the President's address to the European Youth Parliament
Find out more about the European Youth Parliament