Find out the following: 1. What minister would represent Ireland at an agricultural meeting? 2. Name an EU commissioner that represents Ireland. 3. Name Ireland’s MEPs. 4. Do you think Ireland is fairly represented in the European Parliament? 5. Name one of the court of auditors. 6. Name one Irish judge in the Court of Justice. 7. Name a case that was brought to the Court of Human Rights. 8. Name the bank that reports to the ECB on behalf of Ireland.
Point of Information
Interest rates are set by the EU through the European Central Bank (ECB) for Ireland and all EU members. This impacts the Irish Government’s policies and issues.
Decision-Making in the EU
Decision-making in the EU can be quite complex but if you use the following steps, it’s quite logical. See the diagram below:
5 5 Steps 3 Redraft 2 1 Draft proposed law
Drafted by the EU Commission and then sent to the Parliament.
Pass or amend
EU Parliament discusses the proposal and passes or suggests amendments, which are returned to the EU Commission.
The EU
Commission redrafts the proposal and submits it to the EU Council of Ministers.
The EU Council of Ministers meets to agree or reject the proposal.
4
Agree or reject
If rejected, compromise
A Conciliation Committee comprising the EU Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers