Paschal Questions European Union Commission Vice President

12th November, 2008

Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner with responsibility for Institutional Relations and Communication, Ms Margot Wallstrom will be a witness at tomorrow’s meeting of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in Europe.

Vice President of the European Commission, Ms Margot Wallstrom
Vice President of the European Commission, Ms Margot Wallstrom

The issue of communicating the role of the EU and improving public understanding of the function the EU has in the everyday lives of its citizens will be addressed by Commissioner Wallstrom. Ms Wallstrom will be attending the meeting at 2pm in Committee Room 4.

Chair of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in Europe, Senator Paschal Donohoe said; “It is clear from the Lisbon referendum campaign that we need to improve the way we inform people of the EU’s
relevance and the important role its institutions play. As Ms Wallstrom has specific responsibility for this area her contribution will be extremely welcome.”

Daniel Thomas, Brigid Laffan, Gavin Barrett, and Rodney Thom of the Dublin European Institute will also appear at the committee. The Sub-Committee was established following the result of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. It is in its fifth week of deliberations. The Sub-Committee meets up to three days a week and is scheduled to produce its report at the end of November.

Thee committee proceedings are webcast live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/EUAffairs.htm

Schedule for tomorrow

09.30am
Dublin European Institute (DEI): Daniel Thomas, Brigid Laffan, Gavin
Barrett, and Rodney Thom.

2.00pm
Ms Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the European Commission