Committee on European Union Affairs

The Committee on European Union Affairs is a joint committee responsible for monitoring, reviewing, and reporting the likely implications of the policies and programmes pursued by the EU.

The committee comprises members from the Dáil and the Seanad. As both a departmental and thematic committee, it examines a specific topic, EU affairs, while also shadowing the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This shadowing involves the consideration of bills and other EU-related business referred to the committee by the Dáil which relates to the Department.

The committee also considers important developments and initiatives within the EU that affect Ireland and ensures that EU legislation and proposals, including amendments to EU treaties, are properly scrutinised.

This scrutiny includes consideration of the European Commission’s key strategic planning documents, including the State of the Union Address and its annual work programme, as well as the agenda for meetings of the General Affairs Council of the EU. In addition, the committee produces an annual report on the working of the Operation of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act.

As part of its work, the committee engages with members of the EU including European commissioners and MEPs from both Ireland and abroad. Due to Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU, the committee may also engage with representatives of the Lithuanian and Greek governments in relation to their participation in the presidency trio.

Barry Ward TD, Fine Gael (Cathaoirleach) About: TD for Dún Laoghaire since 2024, having served as a Senator on the Industrial and Commercial Panel from 2020. A practicing barrister, Ward previously worked as legal advisor to Enda Kenny and is counsel before the International Criminal Court.	Senator Aidan Davitt, Fianna Fáil (Leas-Chathaoirleach) About: Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel since 2016, having previously been a Westmeath County councillor. Davitt is the managing director of an auctioneering company in Mullingar.
Seán Crowe TD, Sinn Féin About: First served as TD for Dublin South-West from 2002 to 2007. Regained his seat in 2011 and has served since. Crowe represented his party in negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement.	Paul Gogarty TD, Independent About: Green Party TD for Dublin Mid-West from 2002 to 2011. He returned to the Dáil as an Independent TD in 2024. Prior to entering politics, Gogarty worked as a journalist and editor.
Michael Murphy TD, Fine Gael About: Murphy was elected Tipperary South TD in 2024, having previously served as a Tipperary County councillor since 2014. He is also Cathaoirleach of the Committee on Transport.	John Lahart TD, Fianna Fáil About: TD for Dublin South-West since 2016. Lahart serves as his party’s spokesperson on the European Union. He previously worked as a psychotherapist and a teacher.
Eamon Scanlon TD, Fianna Fáil About: Elected as a TD for Sligo-Leitrim for the third time in 2024. He also served as a Senator on the Agricultural Panel. He currently owns and runs an estate agency with his son.	Robert O’Donoghue TD, Labour Party About: O’Donoghue became TD for Dublin Fingal West in 2024 having been a Fingal County councillor since 2018. Before politics, he worked as a teacher.
Paula Butterly TD, Fine Gael About: Butterly became a TD for Louth in 2024. She was previously a councillor on Louth County Council. She is a barrister by profession.	Ruairí Ó Murchú TD, Sinn Féin About: TD for Louth since 2020, having previously served as a Louth County councillor. While a councillor, Ó Murchú was Chairperson of Louth Drug and Alcohol Forum and a member of the North East Drugs Task Force.
Senator Eileen Lynch, Fine Gael About: Senator for the Agricultural Panel since 2025. Lynch is international secretary of Fine Gael and previously served as the secretary general of the youth of the European People’s Party.	Senator Chris Andrews, Sinn Féin About: Labour Panel Senator since 2025, he was previously a TD for Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin. He was on board the Spectre aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in October 2025, and was detained for several days.
Senator Rónán Mullen, Independent About: National University of Ireland Senator since 2007. He previously served as a delegate to the Council of Europe. In 2018, he founded the Human Dignity Alliance party, which focuses on opposition to abortion.	Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, Fianna Fáil About: Senator for the Administrative Panel since 2020, having previously been the first ever female TD for Kildare South. O’Loughlin is the head of the Irish delegation to the Council of Europe. She serves as her party’s leader in the Seanad and its spokesperson on foreign affairs and trade.