Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1999 > Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine, 1999

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

_______________

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL

ón gComhchoiste um Thalmhaíocht, Bia agus an Mhuir Obair an Chomhchoiste

ANNUAL REPORT

of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Work of the Joint Committee

4 Dec. 1998 – 4 Dec. 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Content and Format of Report

This report has been prepared pursuant to paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Standing Order 79A, Dáil Éireann and paragraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Standing Order 63, Seanad Éireann which provides for Joint Committee reports and work programmes as follows–

!review of its procedure and its role

!annual work programme

!laying minutes of proceedings

!making an annual report.

The Committee approved the annual report at its meeting of 3 May, 2000

2. Functions and Powers of the Joint Committee

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine was established by Order of Dáil Éireann of 13th November, 1997 and Order of Seanad Éireann of 19th November, 1997 as part of a programme of Oireachtas reform involving the refining of the Committee system to enable more detailed examination of Government Departments including–

!public affairs administered by each Department

!legislature and expenditure proposals of each Department

!certain matters relating to bodies under the aegis of each Department.

The Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee were modified by further Orders of Dáil Éireann of 28th April, 1998 (new subparagraph (2)(a)(iv) added) and Seanad Éireann of 30th April, 1998 (new subparagraph (2)(a)(iv) added) and the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee, as so modified, are set out at Appendix 1.

3. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Convenors and Membership

Deputy John Ellis resigned from his position as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 9 November, 1999. Mr. Michael Collins, T.D., was appointed to the Committee on the 24 November, 1999. Deputy John Browne (Wexford) was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 25 November, 1999. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dail Select Committee.

Deputies John Brady and P.J. Sheehan are the Convenors of the Committee whose function it is to ensure the availability and attendance of Members or their substitutes for meetings of the Committee and, in particular, to ensure Members’ availability for divisions.

The Members of the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 2.

4. Meetings, Attendance and Recording

Meetings of the Joint Committee took place in the Committee rooms in Kildare House or in the Seanad Chamber. Meetings were in public unless otherwise ordered by the Joint Committee.

Televised coverage of public meetings of the Joint Committee was broadcast live within the Leinster House complex and was available for subsequent public broadcasting.

Verbatim written reports of public meetings of the Select Committee in relation to Bills and Estimates for the Public Services were published and may be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.

Copies of other reports published by the Joint Committee may be obtained from the Clerk, Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of any such reports is set out at Section 8.

5. Number and Duration of Meetings

The Joint Committee met on 20 occasions in the period under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 22 hours. The date and subject matter of each public meeting is set out at Appendix 3.

The Dáil Select Committee met on 6 occasions in the period under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 7.5 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out at Appendix 4.

Records of attendance by Members of the Joint Committee and their duly nominated substitutes at meetings of the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 5.

Records of attendance by Members of the Dáil Select Committee and their duly nominated substitutes at meetings of the Dáil Select Committee are set out at Appendix 6.

Minutes of proceedings of the Joint Committee meeting in public session are attached at Appendix 7.

6. Work of the Committee

6.1 Joint Committee

On the 20 occasions the Committee met it dealt, inter alia, with the following matters:

!Adoption of 1999 Annual Report

!Meeting with an Bord Iascaigh Mhara re their1997 Annual Report

!Meeting with representatives from Teagas re fodder crisis

!Meeting with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine re fodder crisis

!Meeting with representatives from the Irish Bankers Federation and the Irish Grain and Feed Association re fodder crisis

!Meeting with Minister of State for Department of Agriculture and Food re pigmeat industry

!Work Programme of the Joint Committee

!Animal Breeding

!The future of Irish Agricutlure

!Meeting with the representatives from the Department of Agriculture Food re synchronisaiton of Bovine use of PRID/CIDR devices

!Meeting with representatives from Department of Agriculture and Food re Agenda 2000

!Meeting with representatives from various farming organisations re Agenda 2000

!Draft Report on the Future of Irish Agriculture

!Report of the Food Industry Development Group

!Presentation by the Milk Quota Rights Group

!Meeting with representatives from the Department of Agriculture re Milk Quotas

!Motion that the Chairman Mr. John Ellis, T.D., cease to be Chairman of the Committee

!Election of Chairman

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 6 occasions the Committee met it dealt with the following matters:

!Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, 1998

!Minerals Development Bill, 1999 [Seanad]

!Department of Marine and Natural Resources - Vote 30 (Revised Estimate)

!Department of Agriculture and Food - Vote 30 Revised Estimate

!Sea Pollution (Amendment) Bill, 1998 - Committee Sdtage

!Horse and Greyhound Racing, Betting Charges and Levies Bill, 1999

!Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

In the year under report the Joint Committee met with the following:

!The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Joe Walsh, and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Ned O’Keeffe

!Various Semi State Bodies

!Numerous organisations connected with agriculture, food and the marine and representatives of the Department of Agriculture, and Food

!A Foreign Delegation

8. Joint Committee Reports

During the year under report the Joint Committee published the following reports:

!The Future Direction of Irish Agriculture [PN 7438]

!Work Programme 1999

9. Travel by the Joint Committee

The Joint Committee undertook four visits during the course of the year, as follows:

(i)Dovea, Co. Tipperary, 5 March, 1999: Attendance by the Chairman Mr John Ellis,T.D., Mr Paul Connaughton, T.D., Mr Michael P. Kitt, T.D., Mr Michael Lowry, T.D., Mr Michael Creed, T.D., Senator Rory Kiely and Senator Francis O’Brien at the premises and lands of the South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society in Dovea, Co Tipperary pursuant to an invitation received..

(ii)Norway, 6-10 September, 1999: Delegation to study the Norwegian fishing industry led by Mr Michael Finucane, T.D. who was accompanied by Senator Rory Kiely and Senator Francis O’Brien.

(iii)Chicago 27 October - 4 November, 1999: Delegation led by Mr Billy Kelleher, T.D., who was accompanied by Mr Michael Ring, T.D., Mr Michael Creed, T.D., Senator Francis O’Brien and Senator Rory Kiely to study the beef, dairy and grain sectors.

(iv)Maastricht: 2-5 November, 1999: Delegation led by by Mr P.J.Sheehan, T.D., who was accompanied by Senator Peter Callanan who attended a Conference on Agricultural Trade and the next WTO round.

10. Function and Powers

The Committee remains content with its present procedures and its role but once again considers its general staff resources to be wholly inadequate. The Committee notes that it shares its Clerk and other staff member with another Committee. It considers that each Committee should have a full-time Clerk and appropriate full-time support staff. This is not the position at present due to the unnecessarily restrictive policy on staffing in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The key criterion for an effective committee system is adequate resourcing and staff resources in particular must be sufficient to permit all Joint Committees, as agents of both Houses, to efficiently and effectively discharge their obligations. The staffing situation should therefore be corrected as an imperative.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1

Orders of Reference

Dáil Éireann

13th November, 1997, (*28th April, 1998)

(1) (a)That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on agriculture, Food and the Marine, 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine, 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine (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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider–

(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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,

*(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 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

(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.

Orders of Reference

Seanad Éireann

19th November, 1997, (*30th April, 1998)

(1) (a)That a Select Committee consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann shall be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee of Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider–

(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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,

*(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.

(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 62A(1) to (9) inclusive.

(2)The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann.

APPENDIX 2

JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

LIST OF MEMBERS

APPENDIX 3

Meetings of the Joint Committee

APPENDIX 4

Meetings of the Select Committee

APPENDIX 5

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee

ρ Indicates Member was represented by a substitute

A Indicates Apologies from Members

P Indicates Members Present

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee (continued)

ρ Indicates Member was represented by a substitute

A Indicates Apologies from Members

P Indicates Members Present

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee (continued)

ρ Indicates Member was represented by a substitute

A Indicates Apologies from Members

P Indicates Members Present

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee (continued)

ρ Indicates Member was represented by a substitute

A Indicates Apologies from Members

P Indicates Members Present

APPENDIX 6

Attendance at Meetings of the Dáil Select Committee

ρ Indicates Member was represented by a substitute

A Indicates Apologies from Members

P Indicates Members Present

APPENDIX 7

Minutes of proceedings of the Joint Committee

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Tuesday, 12 January, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 12.06 p.m.

Members present: Deputies John Brady, John Browne (Wexford), Paul Connaughton, John Ellis, Michael Ferris*, Michael Finucane, Michael Kitt, and Senators Enda Bonnar*, Peter Callanan and Feargal Quinn.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Deputies Harry Blaney, Billy Kelleher, Rory Kiely, Michael Moynihan, and P J Sheehan.

Witnesses present: The following representatives from Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) were present at the request of the Committee: Mr Pat Keogh, Chief Executive and Mr Pat Ridge, Chairman.

1. Minutes of meeting of 16 December 1998

The minutes of the meeting of 16 December 1998 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Fodder Crisis

With the permission of the Chair, Deputy Paul Connaughton was allowed to raise the issue of the current fodder crisis in Irish agriculture and the response of the Department of Agriculture and Food to the crisis. Following considerable debate it was agreed that the Chairman would ask the Minister to attend an urgent meeting on the matter, together with officials from his Department and from Teagasc, the following week. The Chairman also said that given the state of the pigmeat industry in Ireland he was extremely concerned to learn that sheep were now being imported from the United Kingdom into Ireland and he hoped that the relevant health regulations were being rigorously imposed by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

3. Meeting with Bord Iascaigh Mhara

(i) Introduction by Chairman

12.25 p.m.: The Chairman welcomed the representatives from BIM, thanked them for coming before the Committee and complimented them on their submission.

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

12.26 p.m.: Mr Pat Keogh, Chief Executive and Mr Pat Ridge, Chairman made a presentation to the Committee. This was followed by a question and answer session with Members in which Mr Keogh and Mr Ridge participated. Senator Feargal Quinn noted that this was the first time he had seen the 1997 annual report of BIM and suggested that all annual reports of bodies under the aegis of the Departments within the remit of the Committee should be promptly forwarded to it. This was agreed.

The Chairman suggested that the Committee should visit Killybegs in the near future, perhaps tour one of the supertrawlers and talk to other fishermen in order to develop a first-hand appreciation of the challenges facing the industry. The question and answer session concluded at 1.51 p.m..

4. Any other Business

It was agreed that the meeting with the Department of Agriculture and Food which had been scheduled for Thursday would be postponed until a later date and that the Committee would not now meet on that date.

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned at 1.54 p.m. sine die.

____________________________

John Ellis TD

Chairman

21 January 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Tuesday, 21 January, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 12.09 p.m.

Members present: Deputies John Brady, John Browne (Wexford), Paul Connaughton, Simon Coveney*, Michael Creed, John Ellis, Cecilia Keaveney*, Michael Kitt, Michael Moynihan, Willie Penrose, Michael Ring, P. J. Sheehan and Senators Peter Callanan, Tom Hayes, Pat Moylan*, and Francis O’Brien.

Witnesses present: The following representatives from Teagasc were present at the request of the Committee: Mr Michael Galvin, Director of Operations for Teagasc South and Mr Donal Carey, Director of Operations for Teagasc North .

1. Minutes of meeting of 12 January 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 12 January 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Meeting with Teagasc

(i) Introduction by Chairman

12.11 p.m.: The Chairman welcomed the representatives from Teagasc and thanked them for coming before the Committee. He noted that the Chairman, Dr Tom O’Dwyer and the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Liam Downey were unable to attend the meeting as they had prior commitments in Europe. However, the Committee looked forward to meeting them when it was considering the 1998 Teagasc Annual Report.

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

12.11 p.m.: Mr Carey and Mr Galvin made a brief presentation to the Committee. This was followed by a question and answer session with Members in which Messrs Carey and Galvin participated. The question and answer session concluded at 1.55 p.m..

The Chairman thanked the Teagasc representatives for attending the meeting and advised them that the Committee looked forward to having their Chairman and Chief Executive appear before it next April when the 1998 Annual Report of Teagasc became available. The Chairman said that on the facts presented to the meeting it was clear that Teagasc had limited staff resources with which to do an important job and that this posed difficulties in terms of their response to the situations such as the fodder crisis. However, the Committee was now in a better position to put questions to the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his officials when they appeared before it next Tuesday. Based on the strongly expressed views of Members the Committee it would also have meetings with representatives of compounders and lending institutions on the subject of the fodder crisis.

3. Any other Business

Deputy Paul Connaughton said that he would like if the Committee could have the Minister appear before it to discuss the state of the pig industry. However, he did not wish to confuse this matter with the fodder crisis. The Chairman said that the issue of a meeting on the matter could be raised with the Minister when he appeared before the Committee next Tuesday.

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned at 1.58 p.m..

____________________________

John Ellis TD

Chairman

26 January 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Tuesday, 26 January, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 4.08 p.m.

Members present: Deputies Harry Blaney, John Brady, Paul Connaughton, Michael Creed, John Ellis (in the Chair), Michael Finucane, Billy Kellegher, Michael Kitt, Michael Moynihan, Willie Penrose, P. J. Sheehan and Senators Peter Callanan, Tom Hayes, Ann Leonard*, and Francis O’Brien.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Senator Rory Kiely.

Witnesses present: The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Joe Walsh T. D., accompanied by officials from his department Mr Jim Beecher (Assistant Secretary), Mr Brendan McInerney (Principal Officer), Mr Vincent Keane (Principal Officer) and Mr John Bracken (Assistant Principal Officer) attended the meeting at the request of the Committee.

1. Minutes of meeting of 21 January 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 21 January 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Food and his officials

(i) Introduction by Chairman

4.09 p.m.: The Chairman welcomed the Minister and his officials to the meeting. He thanked the Minister coming before the Committee at the first available opportunity the Minister for coming before the Committee at the first available opportunity

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

4.09 p.m.: The Minister made a presentation to the Committee. This was followed by a question and answer session with Members in which the Minister and Mr Beecher participated. The question and answer session concluded at 5.41 p.m.

The Chairman said that arising from this meeting and the previous meetings it was clear that certain actions needed to be taken. Firstly, the Department should make early payments of moneys due to farmers. Secondly, the Department should investigate the possibility of assigning moneys owed to farmers to the lending institutions in to allay the concerns of those bodies about the lack of collateral where they made loans to farmers. The Committee itself intended to meet representatives of the lending institutions and the compounders in the very near future.

3. Any other Business

The Chairman said that there was a proposal from Deputy Paul Connaughton to have Departmental representatives and the Minister or Minister of State appear before the Committee to discuss the depressed state of the pig industry and it would also be useful to have the processors appear before us as well. This was agreed.

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned at 6.06 p.m..

____________________________

John Ellis TD

Chairman

26 January, 1999.

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Wednesday, 10 February, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 3.13 p.m.

Members present: Deputies Harry Blaney, John Brady, Paul Connaughton, John Ellis (in the Chair), Michael Finucane, Michael Moynihan, Willie Penrose, P. J. Sheehan and Senators Tom Hayes, Dan Kiely *, Rory Kiely, and Francis O’Brien.

Witnesses present: The following representatives from the Irish Bankers Federation and Irish Grain and Feed Association attended the meeting at the request of the Committee:

Irish Bankers Federation: Mr. James Bardon, Director General of the IBF; Mr. Denis Fahey, Market Development Manager, ACC; Mr. John Kelly, Head of Business Banking, AIB; Mr. Maurice Keane, Agricultural Adviser, Bank of Ireland; Mr. Ronan Gately, Manager, Group Credit Control, Bank of Ireland; Mr. George Smith, Senior Agricultural Manager, National Irish Bank; Dr. Michael Joyce, Agricultural Adviser, Ulster Bank and Mr. Gerry Keating, AIB Lending Manager.

Irish Grain and Feed Association: Mr Séamus Funge, Director, Irish Grain and Feed Association, Dr. James F O’Grady, R & H Hall, Mr. Martin Murphy, R & H Hall, Mr. Martin Niland, North Connacht Farmers Co-Op Ltd., Mr. Noel Ryan, Dairygold Co-Op Ltd., Mr. Declan O’Keeffe, Golden Vale plc. Mr. Funge conveyed apologies to the Committee on behalf of Mr. Michael Heaslip, Southern Milling Ltd., and Mr. James Brett, Brett Brothers Ltd. for their non-attendance due to illness.

1. Minutes of meeting of 26 January 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 26 January 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Meeting with representatives from the Irish Bankers Federation

(i) Introduction by Chairman

The Chairman welcomed the representatives from the Irish Bankers Federation and thanked then for attending.

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

3.14 p.m.: Mr Bardon from the Irish Banks Information Service made a brief presentation to the Committee. This was followed by a question and answer session with Members in which numerous members of the delegation participated. The question and answer session concluded at 4.10 p.m.

4.10 p.m. Ordered: That the Committee suspend to await the arrival of the representatives from the Irish Grain and Feed Association. The sitting was suspended accordingly.

4.17 p.m.: Sitting resumed.

3. Meeting with representatives from Irish Grain and feed Association

(i) Introduction by Chairman

The Chairman welcomed the representatives from the Irish Grain and Feed Association and thanked then for attending.

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

4.17 p.m..: Mr Funge from the Irish Grain and Feed Association made some opening comments of thanks and Dr James O’Grady then made a brief presentation to the Committee which was accompanied by a handout. This was followed by a question and answer session with Members in which numerous members of the delegation participated. The Chairman in response to a request from Mr Funge that the Committee might consider what it could do to assist in alleviating the situation in the pigmeat industry stated that the matter was already in hand and was on the agenda for consideration. The question and answer session concluded at 5.08 p.m.

4. Any other Business

(i) Invitation received from the South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society

The Chairman brought to the attention of the Committee a letter received from Mr Dermot Cahill of the South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society, Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, in which he noted the interest expressed by the Committee when he appeared before it the previous July in visiting an A.I. station and inviting the Committee to visit the A.I. station in Dovea. The Committee agreed a date of Friday 5 March 1999. It was noted that the matter would have to be formally placed on the next agenda in order to comply with the relevant rules governing travel by Committees.

(ii) Pigmeat Industry

The Chairman raised the issue of the decision taken at previous meetings to ask the Minister or his Minister of State to appear before it to discuss the pigmeat industry. He also raised the decision of the Committee to have representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Food appear before it to discuss Agenda 2000. Deputy Paul Connaughton said that the Minister or Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture and Food should come before the Committee within the week to discuss the situation in the pigmeat industry. It was agreed that the Chairman should try to arrange separate meetings with both the Minister or Minister of State and Departmental officials as a priority.

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned at 5.12 p.m..

_______________

John Ellis TD

Chairman

17 February 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Wednesday, 17 February, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 3.05 p.m.

Members present: Deputies Harry Blaney, John Brady, Paul Connaughton, Michael Creed, John Ellis (in the Chair), Michael Finucane, Willie Penrose, Michael Ring, P. J. Sheehan, and Brendan Smith* and Senators Peter Callanan, Tom Hayes, Rory Kiely, and Francis O’Brien.

Deputies Andrew Boylan, Seymour Crawford and Michael Ferris and Senator Ann Leonard were also in attendance.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Senator Feargal Quinn.

Witnesses present: The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr Ned O’Keeffe T.D., accompanied by officials from his department, Mr.Tom Moran (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Brendan McInerney, (Principal Officer), and Mr. John Bracken, (Assistant Principal Officer) attended the meeting at the request of the Committee:

1. Minutes of meeting of 17 February 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 17 February 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Meeting with the Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture and his officials.

(i) Introduction by Chairman

The Chairman welcomed the Minister of State and his officials to the meeting. He thanked the Minister for coming before the Committee at the first available opportunity. He advised the Committee that there was, unfortunately, only one hour available as another Committee was due to meet at 4 p.m. and as this was not the normal time slot for the Committee.

(ii) Presentation and Question and Answer Session

3.06 p.m.: The Minister of State made some opening remarks which were circulated to Members. This was followed by a question and answer session which concluded at 3.55 p.m.

3. Visit to A. I. centre at Dovea, Thurles on Friday 5 March 1999

It was formally agreed that members of the Committee would travel to Dovea, Thurles on Friday 5 March and that the Clerk would circulate Members with details as soon as possible. The Chairman indicated that the cost was somewhat uncertain as it was not known how many Members wished to travel. The main cost would be travel as most Members will have to make their own way there. The Committee agreed that an amount of up to £2,500 could be expended but that this could be increased if more members than expected decided to travel.

4. Award of Consultancy re proposed Report on the Future of Irish Agriculture

It was agreed to accept the tender from U.C.D. regarding the proposed Report on the Future of Irish Agriculture. The tender amount was £13,000.

5. Any other business

The Chairman advised the meeting that the next meeting was likely to be with the officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food in connection with the Agenda 2000 negotiations which would hopefully have concluded by that stage. It was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday 3 March from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m..

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned at 3.59 p.m.

____________

John Ellis TD

Chairman

10 March 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Wednesday, 14 April, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 12.07.

Members present: Deputies John Brady, Mattie Brennan*, John Ellis (in the Chair), Michael Finucane, Michael P. Kitt, Willie Penrose and P.J. Sheehan and Senators Willie Farrelly*, Tom Hayes, Francis O’Brien, and Senator Feargal Quinn.

Apologies were received from Deputies John Brown (Wexford) and Paul Connaughton and Senator Peter Callanan.

In Attendance: Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr. Bart Brady, Assistant Secretary; Mr. Richard Healy, Principal Officer and Ms. Maura Ruddy, Assistant Principal Officer. Professor Séamus Sheehy, UCD, consultant to the Committee also attended.

1. Minutes of the Meeting of 31 March 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 31 March 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Discussion on the Agenda 2000

The Committee met with representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Food: Mr. Bart Brady, Assistant Secretary, Mr. Richard Healy, Principal Officer and Ms. Maura Ruddy, Assistant Principal Officer. The Chairman welcomed the representatives from the Department and congratulated them on the outcome of the negotiations on Agenda 2000. There followed a brief presentation by the Mr Brady of the outcome of the Agenda 2000 negotiations and the implications for Ireland. Mr Brady also circulated two documents to the meeting to which he referred in the course of his presentation. A question and answer session with Members then ensued. Professor Séamus Sheehy, consultant to the Committee, also addressed the meeting. The question and answer session concluded at 1.24 p.m..

3. Any other business

(i) Estimates and Bills - Business of the Dáil select Committee

The Chairman advised the Committee that all Committee Chairs had received a communication from the Office of the Government Chief Whip requesting that Dáil Select Committees take the Revised Estimates before Wednesday 23 June. Estimates for the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Food had already been referred to the Select Committee on Agriculture and Food. The Select Committee also had a Bill before it, the Sea Pollution (Amendment) Bill, 1999. He had asked the Clerk to consult with the spokespersons and schedule appropriate dates as soon as possible.

(ii) Letter received from Trócaire

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Clerk had received a letter from Trócaire which was being circulated. The contents of the letter could be considered at a later stage.

There being no other business the Joint Committee adjourned sine die at 1.24 p.m.

_______________

John Ellis, T.D.

Chairman.

16 June 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Wednesday, 2 June, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 4 p.m..

Members present: Deputies John Brady, Paul Connaughton, John Ellis (in the Chair), Billy Kelleher, Michael P. Kitt, *Breda Moynihan, Michael Moynihan and P.J. Sheehan and Senator Feargal Quinn.

Apologies were received from Senator Francis O’Brien.

In Attendance: Mr. Tom Parlon, President, and Mr. Michael Berkery, General Secretary, Irish Farmers Association (IFA); Mr. T.J. Maher, President, and Mr. Dermot Kelly, Vice-President, Macra na Feirme; Mr. Frank Allen, President, and Mr. Ciaran Dolan, Economist, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA); Mr. Michael O’Callaghan, President and Mr. Kevin O’Rourke, Munster President, United Farmers’ Association (UFA); Mr. Charlie Reilly, Chairman and Mr. Raymond Doyle, General Secretary, Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners Association (ICSA).

1. Minutes of the Meeting of 14 April 1999

The minutes of the meeting of 14 April, 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Question and Answer Session with Representatives from the Farming Organisations re Submissions received on draft Report the Future of Irish Agriculture

The Committee met with representatives from the Irish Farmers Association, Macra na Feirme, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, United Farmers’ Association and the Irish Cattle Traders and Stockowners Association. The Chairman welcomed the representatives and thanked them for coming to the meeting. He explained that the absence of some Members was due to the demands of the forthcoming elections and was not intended as a discourtesy. A question and answer session with Members then ensued. The question and answer session concluded at 5.57 p.m..

3. Any other business

The Chairman informed the Members that correspondence had been received from Mr Dermot Cahill of the South Eastern Cattle Breeding Society Ltd. regarding the Animal Remedies Regulations and bovine synchronisation, a matter which the Committee has considered and which was the subject of a recent visit to Dovea, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

It was agreed that the Clerk write to the Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture and Food on the matter expressing the wish of the Committee that (a) the Department appear before the Committee after their discussions on bovine synchronisation with the various representative organisations had concluded and before they changed the Regulations and (b) that they confirm in writing that would appear before the Committee before they implemented any changes in the Regulations.

__________________

John Ellis, T.D.

Chairman.

16 June, 1999

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Wednesday, 15 July, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 2.06 p.m..

Members present: Deputies John Brady, Paul Connaughton, John Ellis (in the Chair), Michael Finucane, Michael Moynihan, Willie Penrose, Michael Ring and P.J. Sheehan and Senators Peter Callanan, Rory Kiely and Francis O’Brien.

Apologies were received from Deputy Michael Creed.

In Attendance: Mr. Ned O’Keeffe, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture & Food, and his officials to discuss the report of The Food Industry Development Group

2. Minutes of the Meeting of the 22 June, 1999.

The minutes of the meeting of the 22 June, 1999 were put to the meeting and agreed to.

3. Discussion on The Food Industry Development Group.

Mr. Ned O’Keeffe, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture & Food, made a presentation on the Report of the Food Industry Development Group. A document containing bullet points of his opening comments was circulated. A question and answer session then took place with Members of the Committee. It was suggested that the Committee might consider making recommendations regarding the centralisation within Bord Bia of certain marketing functions currently carried out by Bord Iascaigh Mhara and it was agreed to consider this further at a later meeting.

4. Any other business

It was agreed that the Committee would meet in private session at 2 p.m. on Thursday 22 July, 1999.

There being no other business the Committee adjourned at 3.44 p.m.

__________________

John Ellis, T.D.

Chairman

22 July, 1999.

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minutes of Public Meeting: Thursday, 25 November, 1999

The Joint Committee met at 11 a.m. in Room G.24, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Members present: Deputies Harry Blaney (in the Chair), John Brady, John Browne (Wexford), Paul Connaughton, Michael Collins, Michael Creed, Billy Kelleher, Michael P. Kitt, Michael Moynihan, *Michael Ferris, Michael Ring and P.J. Sheehan, and Senators Peter Callanan, Tom Hayes, Rory Kiely and Francis O’Brien.

1. Minutes of Meetings of 5 October and 10 November

The minutes of the meetings of 5 October and 10 November were put to the meeting and agreed to.

2. Election of Chairman

The Vice-Chairman called for nominations for the position of Chairman. Deputy John Browne (Wexford) was proposed by Deputy John Brady. There being no other nominations, Deputy Browne was deemed elected to the position of Chairman of the Committee and took the Chair.

The Chairman thanked the Committee and acknowledged the work of the previous Chairman, Deputy John Ellis, T.D. There followed some congratulatory remarks from other Members.

3. Any other business

There being no other business the meeting was adjourned sine die at 11.24 a.m.

_________________________

John Browne, T.D. (Wexford),

Chairman.

1 March 2000

APPENDIX 8

JOINT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

WORK PROGRAMME 2000

Contents

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 in 2000 or presently before Committee

-National Beef Assurance Scheme Bill, 1999 [Seanad]

-Merchant Shipping(Investigation of Marine Casualties) Bill, 1999

5.1.2Planned Legislation (Department of Agriculture and Food):

-Land Commission Bill

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

-Sea Pollution (Hazardous and Noxious Substances)(Civil Liability and Compensation) Bill

-Foyle Fisheries Commission Bill

-Adventure Activities (Safety) Bill

-Alginate Industries Bill

-Adventure Activities (Safety) Bill

-Coastal Zone Management Bill

-Fisheries Harbours (Amendment) Bill

-Marine Emergency Service Bill

-Minerals Development 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

5.3Agricultural Reform and the Future of Farming

5.3.1Following the adoption of our key report on the Future of Irish Agriculture, the Committee shall continue to monitor agricultural reform with particular reference to the implementation of Agenda 2000 and the impact of ongoing trade liberalisation and other relevant factors on the future of Irish agriculture, in the following way:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.4Marine Reform and the Future of the Fishing Industry

5.4.1The Committee may, subject to time and resource constraints, monitor the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and other relevant policies \ factors with a view to assessing their impact on the future of the Irish fishing industry. The Committee may

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.5Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

5.5.1The Committee has determined that it shall, subject to time and resource constraints, consider the areas of Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis with a view to preparing a Report. The Committee may:

(i)Engage consultants to assist it in the preparation of the Report.

(ii)Invite submissions from appropriate representative organisations and following consideration of these submissions subsequently meet with those organisations if it deems this to be desirable .

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

(iv)Undertake visits or fact finding missions in connection with its consideration of any matters relevant to the Report.

(v)Lay the Report before both Houses of the Oireachtas following adoption by the Committee.

5.6Food Safety

5.6.1 The Committee may, subject to time and resource restraints, consider the vital issue of food safety. The Committee may:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.7Organic Farming

5.7.1The Committee may, subject to time and resource constraints, consider organic farming with a view to furthering the Committee’s understanding of the nature and viability of organic farming and assessing its role within Irish agriculture. The Committee may:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.8Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

5.8.1The Committee may, time and resources permitting, consider the areas of GMOs including transgenic organisms. The Committee may:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.9Off-Shore Oil and Gas Industry

5.9.1The Committee may, time and resources permitting, consider the policy issues surrounding the Irish off-shore oil and gas industry. The Committee may:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.10Animal Breeding

5.10.1The Committee remains interested in keeping itself abreast of developments in this vital area of the agricultural sector which it has previously visited. The Committee may:

(i)Meet with representative organisations as considered necessary.

(ii)Meet with other interested parties or persons\ groups as considered necessary.

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

5.11Consideration of Statements of Strategy under Public Service Management Act

5.11.1The 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 may select aspects of these statements on an ongoing basis and may report on the progress made by both Departments in relation to the achievement of their aims and objectives.

5.12Consideration of Annual Reports and\or Accounts

5.12.1The 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.

5.13Conferences and Fact Finding Missions

5.13.1The Committee may participate in Conferences and undertake fact finding missions relevant to subject matters, falling within the terms of reference of the Committee, as it sees fit.

5.14International Parliamentary Association for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

5.14.1The Committee may take part in such Conferences or other meeting necessitated by its membership of the International Parliamentary Association for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

5.15Delegations

5.15.1The Committee may meet delegations from counterpart committees of other Parliaments.

5.16Meeting with Representative Organisations

5.16.1The Committee intends to continue meeting with representative organisations as time, limited resources and its other work commit-ments permit, as part of the ongoing process of informing itself.

5.17Other Matters

5.17.1The Committee may 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

See Page A5 above for List of Members

APPENDIX 2

Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

See page A1 above for Orders of Reference

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:

(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 Seanad;

(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;

(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 Seanad;

(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 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.”.

Elected as Chairman on 25 November 1999 pursuant to the resignation of Deputy John Ellis

¹ rom the position of Chairman Appointed 24 November 1999 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Deputy John Ellis from the Joint Committee

² Appointed 18 June 1998 to fill the vacancy left by Deputy Hugh Coveney R.I.P.

* In substitution for Deputy Willie Penrose and Senator Francis O’Brien respectively.

* In substitution for Deputies Michael Finucane and Billy Kelleher and Senator Rory Kiely respectively.

* In substitution for Senator Rory Kiely.

* In substitution for Senator Peter Callanan.

* In substitution for Deputy Billy Kelleher.

* In substitution for Deputy John Browne (Wexford) and Senator Peter Callanan respectively.

* In substitution for Deputy Willie Penrose.

* In substitution for Deputy Willie Penrose