Committee Reports::Report - Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, year ending 19 November 1998::19 November, 1998::Appendix

Appendix 4

Orders of Reference - Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann


Order of 20 November 1997:


(1) (a)That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, consisting of 14 members of Dáil Éireann (of whom 4 shall constitute a quorum), be appointed to consider such-


(i)Bills the statute law in respect of which is dealt with by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and


(ii)Estimates for Public Services within the aegis of that Department, as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time.


(b)For the purpose of its consideration of Bills under paragraph (1)(a)(i), the Select Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 78A(1), (2) and (3).


(c)For the avoidance of doubt, by virtue of his or her ex officio membership of the Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 84(1), the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (or a Minister or Minister of State nominated in his or her stead) shall be entitled to vote.


(2) (a)The Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Seanad Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business to consider-


(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as it may select, including bodies under the aegis of that Department in respect of Government policy,


(ii)such matters of policy for which the Minister in charge of that Department is officially responsible as it may select,


(iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Minister in charge of that Department pursuant to section 5(2) of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and shall be authorised for the purposes of section 10 of that Act, and


(iv)such other matters as may be jointly referred to it from time to time by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and shall report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas.


(b)The quorum of the Joint Committee shall be 5, of whom at least 1 shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and 1 a member of Seanad Éireann.


(c)The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 78A(1) to (9) inclusive.


(3)The Chairman of the Joint Committee, who shall be a member of Dáil Éireann, shall also be Chairman of the Select Committee.


That the Orders of Reference of the Committees listed in the Table to this motion be amended by the insertion of the following new subparagraph after subparagraph (2)(a)(iii):


‘(iv)such Annual Reports or Annual Reports and Accounts, required by law and laid before either or both Houses of the Oireachtas, of bodies under the aegis of the Department(s) specified in paragraph 2(a)(i), and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select.


Provided that the Joint Committee shall not, at any time, consider any matter relating to such a body which is, which has been, or which is, at that time, proposed to be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts pursuant to the Orders of Reference of that Committee and/or the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993.


Provided further that the Joint Committee shall refrain from inquiring into in public session, or publishing confidential information regarding, any such matter if so requested either by the body or by the Minister in charge of that Department; and’.”


Table


Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs


Joint Committee on Heritage and the Irish Language


Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Women’s Rights


Joint Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs


Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine


Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government


Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service


Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport


Joint Committee on Health and Children


Joint Committee on Education and Science


Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business


Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation.


— Séamus Ó Braonáin, Aire Stáit ag Roinn an Taoisigh.