Today, Tuesday, April 4th, the European Parliament put further pressure on the EU Council to meet publicly whenever it was acting in a legislative capacity. This call came on foot of a Special Report from the European Ombudsman on the transparency of Council meetings.

Independent MEP Marian Harkin, referring the decision said "I am calling on the Irish Government to lead the way in this matter.  It is crucial that the Council of Ministers takes its decisions as openly as possible so that the people of Europe can be informed and can hold their Governments and Ministers to account.  The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has spoken many times about putting the Draft Constitution to a vote in Ireland.  A simple majority decision in the Council to make laws in public, as proposed in the Draft Treaty, would show good faith to all European citizens.

“Furthermore, it would increase their trust in the European Institutions if they have full information on debates concerning laws which will become binding on them as European citizens.  I have written to all Irish Ministers in 2005 asking for their support on this issue but so far I have received the standard reply, "I will bring this to the Ministers attention".

“It is time for action and, once again, I am asking the Taoiseach to take the lead on this and follow the advice of the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman and ensure that the Council makes all its laws in public", Marian Harkin MEP concluded.