
	HOME Baile
	COMMITTEE REPORTS Tuasascálacha Coistí

Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1998 > Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine, 1997-1998

APPENDIX 8 JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

WORK PROGRAMME 1998

JULY 1998

1.	Introduction	Page 3
2.	Orders of Reference of the Dáil Select Committee on Agriculture, Food
	and the Marine	Page 3
3.	Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and
	the Marine	Page 3
4.	Order of consideration of items and amendment of Work Programme of
	Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine	Page 4
5.	Work Programme - Department of Agriculture and Food and
	Department of the Marine and Natural Resources	Page 6
APPENDIX 1		Page 10
APPENDIX 2		Page 11
APPENDIX 3		Page 14

1. Introduction

1.1The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine was established following an order of Dáil Éireann of 13th November 1997 (as amended) and of Seanad Éireann of 19th November 1997 (as amended).

Standing Order 79A(4) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business of Dáil Éireann and Standing Order 63(4) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business of Seanad Éireann require that -

“As soon as may be following its appointment and thereafter at annual intervals, each Select Committee shall prepare a work programme and shall lay such programme before Dáil Éireann.”

Pursuant to this requirement the work programme detailed at section 5 below was agreed by the Joint Committee at its meeting on 14 July, 1998, and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the same date.

2. Orders of Reference of the Dáil Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2.1In addition to the remit of the Joint Committee (detailed at 3 below), paragraph (1) (a) of the Order of Dáil Éireann (as amended on 28 April 1998), empowers the Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to consider—

(i)Bills the statute law in respect of which is dealt with by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, and

(ii)Estimates for Public Services within the aegis of those Departments,

as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time.

3. Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

3.1Paragraph (2) (a) of the Order of Dáil Éireann (as amended on 28 April 1998) and paragraph (1) (a) of the Order of Seanad Éireann (as amended on 30 April 1998) empowers the Joint Committee to consider—

“(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources as it may select, including bodies under the aegis of those Departments in respect of Government policy.

(ii)such matters of policy for which the Ministers in charge of those Departments are officially responsible as it may select,

(iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Ministers in charge of those Departments 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,

(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

(v)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.”

Accordingly, the items listed in this Work Programme will be considered by the Joint Committee within the parameters defined by the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee, as amended from time to time.

4. Order of consideration of items and amendment of Work Programme of Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

4.1The items detailed in the Work Programme at 5 below are not listed in order of priority. It is the opinion of the Joint Committee that to accord priority and agree a timetable for consideration of the various items would impose a structure that would not enable the Joint Committee to respond to events in a sufficiently flexible fashion. The staff resources available to the Committee are, unfortunately, very limited, and as the Committee is only guaranteed a meeting slot once a fortnight, it would therefore not be practical or prudent to adopt a more rigid timescale at the stage. This position can be reconsidered as and when additional resources become available.

4.2The Joint Committee has therefore agreed that on the conclusion of its consideration of an item it will then decide the next item(s) for consideration. Similarly, as the Committee could not be expected to anticipate all developments falling within its remit, it has agreed that, in response to a particular event, it shall, if it deems it necessary to do so, amend this Work Programme to include further items or delete or revise existing items for consideration. Any such amendment of this Work Programme shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as may be following such amendment.

5. Work Programme - Department of Agriculture and Food and Department of the Marine and Natural Resources

A.Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

5.1Bills the statute law in respect of which is dealt with by the Department:

5.1.1Legislation Processed to-date

-Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 1997

-Plant Varieties (Proprietary Rights) (Amendment Bill) 1997

5.1.2Planned Legislation (Department of Agriculture and Food):

-Greyhound Industry (Amendment) Bill

-Land Commission Bill

-State Property Bill

-Western Development Commission Bill

5.1.3Planned Legislation (Department of the Marine and Natural Resources):

-Alginate Industries Bill

-Coastal Zone Management Bill

-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill

-Foyle Fisheries Commission Bill

-Marine Emergency Service Bill

-Minerals Development Bill

-Pollution of the Seas by Hazardous and Noxious Substances (Civil Liability and Compensation) Bill

-Sea Pollution (Amendment) Bill

5.2Estimates and Supplementary Estimates

5.2.1Such Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources as are referred by Dáil Éireann.

B.Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

5.3Agenda 2000: European Commission’s Proposals

5.3.1The Committee has determined that it will consider the Agenda 2000 proposals of the Commission in the following manner.

(i)Invite submissions from representative organisations and subsequently meet with those organisations:

Representative organisations from the agriculture and food and the marine and natural resources sectors with whom the Joint Committee has met to-date:

-Irish Farmer’s Association;

-Macra na Feirme;

-Irish Meat Association;

-Irish Countrywomen’s Association;

-United Farmer’ Association;

-Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners’ Association;

-Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association;

-Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation;

-Irish South and West Fishermen’s Organisation;

-Irish Fish Producer’s Organisation;

-Irish Fishermen’s Organisation.

(ii)Meet as it sees fit with other interested parties or persons\groups who may inform its views.

(iii)Undertake visits or fact finding missions in connection with its consideration of any matters relevant to Agenda 2000.

(iv)Engage a consultant to assist it in the preparation of a Report.

5.4Food safety and health

5.4.1The Committee wishes to consider this area in some detail but, given its limited resources, this consideration will have to wait until the review of Agenda 2000 is concluded.

5.5Draft European Communities (Approval and Registration of Dealers and Dealer’s Premises) Regulations, 1998

5.5.1The Committee has commenced consideration of the above matter and has met with representatives of:

-The West and Northwest of Ireland Livestock Producers and Suppliers Association, and

-The Department of Agriculture and Food.

5.6Meetings with Fishermen in Fishing Ports

5.6The Committee wishes to meet with fishermen in the various fishing ports and hear at first hand their concerns and their views on the future of the industry. A report on these meeting will then be prepared and laid before the Dáil.

5.7Meeting with Representative Organisations

5.7.1The Committee has invited certain representative bodies to make submissions addressing what they considered to be the five most important issues facing their members. While a large proportion of the issues so raised were related to Agenda 2000, a significant number of representative bodies raised separate issues and the Committee hopes to pursue these matters, time and resources permitting.

The Committee intends to continue meeting with representative organisations as time, limited resources and its other work commitments permit, as part of the ongoing process of informing itself.

5.8Animal Breeding

5.8.1The Committee is interested in fully informing itself on the current status of this vital area of the agricultural sector. To this end the Committee will hold meetings with the Department of Agriculture and Food, representative bodies and other interested parties.

5.9Consideration of Statements of Strategy under Public Service Management Act

5.9.1The Committee is required under its Orders of Reference to consider the Strategy Statement of both the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. The Committee will select aspects of these statements on an ongoing basis and will report on the progress made by both Departments in relation to the achievement of their aims and objectives.

5.10Consideration of Annual Reports and\or Accounts

5.10.1The Committee may consider 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 of Agriculture and Food or the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of these bodies, as it may select, within the limitations specified in its Orders of Reference.

5.11Conferences and Fact Finding Missions

5.11.1The Committee shall participate in Conferences and fact finding missions relevant to subject matters, falling within the terms of reference of the Committee, as it sees fit.

5.12Delegations

5.12.1The Committee shall meet delegations from counterpart committees of other Parliaments.

5.13Other Matters

5.13.1The Committee shall consider such other matters relevant to its Orders of Reference as it may decide and such matters as may be referred to the Joint Committee by the Houses of the Oireachtas from time to time; and such hold such meetings or conduct such fact finding missions as it considers necessary in connection with the aforementioned.

APPENDIX 1 JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

LIST OF MEMBERS

Deputies:	Harry Blaney (Ind) [Vice-Chairman]
	John Brady (FF) [Convenor]
	John Browne (Wexford) (FF)
	Paul Connaughton (FG)
	Michael Creed (FG)*
	John Ellis (FF) [Chairman]
	Michael Finucane (FG)
	Billy Kelleher (FF)
	Michael P. Kitt (FF)
	Michael Lowry (Ind)
	Michael Moynihan (FF)
	Willie Penrose (Lab)
	Michael Ring (FG)
	P.J. Sheehan (FG) [Convenor]
Senators:	Peter Callanan (FF)
	Tom Hayes (FG)
	Rory Kiely (FF)
	Francis O’Brien (FF)
	Feargal Quinn (Ind)

* 18 June 1998: Filled the vacancy left by Deputy Hugh Coveney, R.I.P.

APPENDIX 2 Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

Dáil Éireann

ALREADY PROVIDED: SEE PAGE A1 EARLIER

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

Seanad Éireann

ALREADY PROVIDED: SEE PAGE A3 EARLIER

APPENDIX 3 Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

POWERS OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Text of Dáil Standing Order 78A referred to in Joint Committee’s (Dáil) Orders of Reference:

“78A.Without prejudice to the generality of Standing Order 78, the Dáil may confer any or all of the following powers on a Select Committee:

(1)power to take oral and written evidence and to print and publish from time to time minutes of such evidence taken in public before the Select Committee together with such related documents as the Select Committee thinks fit;

(2)power to invite and accept written submissions from interested persons or bodies;

(3)power to appoint sub-Committees and to refer to such sub-Committees any matter comprehended by its orders of reference and to delegate any of its powers to such sub-Committees, including power to report directly to the Dáil;

(4)power to draft recommendations for legislative change and for new legislation;

(5)power to require that a member of the Government or Minister of State shall attend before the Select Committee to discuss policy for which he or she is officially responsible: provided that a member of the Government or Minister of State may decline to attend for stated reasons given in writing to the Select Committee, which may report thereon to the Dáil: and provided further that a member of the Government or Minister of State may request to attend a meeting of the Select Committee to enable him or her to discuss such policy;

(6)power to require that a member of the Government or Minister of State shall attend before the Select Committee to discuss proposed primary or secondary legislation (prior to such legislation being published) for which he or she is officially responsible: provided that a member of the Government or Minister of State may decline to attend for stated reasons given in writing to the Select Committee, which may report thereon to the Dáil: and provided further that a member of the Government or Minister of State may request to attend a meeting of the Select Committee to enable him or her to discuss such proposed legislation;

(7)subject to any constraints otherwise prescribed by law, power to require that principal office holders in bodies in the State which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by members of the Government or by the Oireachtas shall attend meetings of the Select Committee, as appropriate, to discuss issues for which they are officially responsible: provided that such an office holder may decline to attend for stated reasons given in writing to the Select Committee, which may report thereon to the Dáil;

(8)power to engage, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge, to assist it or any of its sub-Committees in considering particular matters; and

(9)power to undertake travel, subject to—

(a)such rules as may be determined by the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform from time to time under Standing Order 91(3)(b);

(b)such recommendations as may be made by the Working Group of Committee Chairmen under Standing Order 92(2)(a); and

(c)the consent of the Minister for Finance, and normal accounting procedures.”.

Text of Seanad Standing Order 62A referred to in Joint Committee’s (Seanad) Orders of Reference:

“62A.Without prejudice to the generality of Standing Order 62, the Seanad may confer any or all of the following powers on a Select Committee:

(2)power to invite and accept written submissions from interested persons or bodies:

(4)power to draft recommendations for legislative change and for new legislation:

(5)power to require that a member of the Government or Minister of State shall attend before the Select Committee to discuss policy for which he or she is officially responsible: provided that a member of the Government or Minister of State may decline to attend for stated reasons given in writing to the Select Committee, which may report thereon to the Seanad: and provided further that a member of the Government or Minister of State may request to attend a meeting of the Select Committee to enable him or her to discuss such policy:

(6)power to require that a member of the Government or Minister of State shall attend before the Select Committee to discuss proposed primary or secondary legislation (prior to such legislation being published) for which he or she is officially responsible: provided that a member of the Government or Minister of State may decline to attend for stated reasons given in writing to the Select Committee, which may report thereon to the Seanad: and provided further that a member of the Government or Minister of State may request to attend a meeting of the Select Committee to enable him or her to discuss such proposed legislation;

(9)power to undertake travel, subject to —

(a)such rules as may be determined by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges from time to time under Standing Order 71(1)(e);

(b)such recommendations as may be made by the Working Group of Committee Chairmen under Standing Order 71D; and

(c)the consent of the Minister for Finance, and normal accounting procedures.”.