Paschal reviews impact of Lisbon Vote with Enterprise Ireland and

28th October, 2008

Heads of IDA and Enterprise Ireland to be Queried on Effects of Lisbon Rejection on Irish Business Abroad

Chairman of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Mr John Dunne and CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Mr Frank Ryan will be appearing before the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Ireland’s Future in the EU tomorrow.

The Committee will be questioning Mr Dunne and Mr Ryan about the possible ramifications there have been for Irish businesses abroad following the result of the Lisbon referendum and whether the outcome of the treaty has had implications for attracting investment into the country.

Chair of the Sub Committee, Senator Paschal Donohoe said; “As the two principal agencies with responsibility for attracting foreign investment into Ireland and fostering indigenous industry for the export market, the perspectives of both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland will be extremely significant.”

“Tomorrow’s meeting will provide an opportunity to explore if the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty has had consequences for foreign and domestic investment in Ireland and if there are implications for Irish owned businesses which operate outside the state.”

In addition to Mr Ryan and Mr Dunne a delegation from the European Parliamentary Constitutional Committee will also be addressing the committee. They will be discussing “The role of the European Parliament, including its decision making and the Lisbon Treaty provisions relating to this role.”

The committee proceedings continue be webcast live at:

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/EUAffairs.htm

Schedule of Committee for Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th October:

Tuesday 29th October

Session  1:  11.00a.m.–1.00  pm:  The  role  of  the  European  Parliament, including  its  decision  making  process, and the Lisbon Treaty provisions relating   to   this   role:   Delegation   from  the  European  Parliament Constitutional Affairs Committee

Session  2:  3.30 p.m.–5.00 p.m. The impact of the Lisbon Treaty Referendum result  in  respect  of business  and  the economy and in particular Irish business abroad: Mr John Dunne, IDA and Mr Frank Ryan, Enterprise Ireland

Wednesday 30th October

Session  1:  9.30 a.m.–11.15 am: The impact of the Lisbon Treaty referendum result in relation to Ireland’s influence within the EU and globally from a Commission perspective: Mr David Byrne SC and Dr Noel Dorr, NUI Galway

Session  2:  2.30  pm: The impact of the Lisbon Treaty referendum result in relation to Ireland’s influence within the EU and globally: Mr John Bruton, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the USA

Session  3: 4.30 pm: Ireland’s influence within the EU institutions, an ECJ perspective,  and  the  interaction  between  Irish  and  EU Law:  Ms Maria Cahill, Faculty of Law UCC, Anthony M Collins SC