Oireachtas Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions to hear from the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee

Cathaoirleach of the Committee, Peadar Tóibín TD, said: “We have been given the ambitious task to chart a course for a petitions system in the Houses of the Oireachtas. An Oireachtas petitions system will present an important new avenue for individuals to participate in the democratic process. This is an historic opportunity. For the first time, through the petitions process, members of the public will be able to take their policy concerns directly to the heart of the Oireachtas and to influence the Oireachtas agenda.

Over the coming weeks, the Committee will conduct a rigorous consultation process to ensure that we construct a petitions system that is truly accessible and accountable. As part of that consultation process, the Committee will look at how petitions systems operate elsewhere to ensure that we incorporate best practice in the Oireachtas. Therefore we are looking forward to discussing this matter at our meeting tomorrow with David Lowe, head of Secretariat of the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee.

Any Irish citizen or resident may, individually or in association with others, submit a petition to the European Parliament on a subject which comes within the European Union's fields of activity and which affects them directly. The European Parliament received 1,655 petitions in 2010, a drop of 14% compared to the 1,924 submitted in 2009. A total of 653 petitions – or 39.5% - were declared inadmissible in 2010.

This meeting will provide Members of the Committee with an overview of the European Parliament’s system and contribute to our understanding of the operation of a petitions process. Members will also have an opportunity to ask relevant questions or raise any issues or concerns they may have on the issue.”

This meeting will take place on Wednesday, 21st September, in Committee Room 3, Leinster House 2000 at 4pm.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Membership

Dara Calleary, TD
Joan Collins, TD
Michael Conaghan, TD
Alan Farrell, TD
Charles Flanagan, TD
Michael Healy-Rae, TD
Peter Matthews, TD
Michael McCarthy, TD
Charlie McConalogue, TD
Michelle Mulherin, TD
Derek Nolan, TD
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD
John Paul Phelan, TD
Peadar Tóibín, TD
Mick Wallace, TD