Committee Reports::Report - Report on Proposals for a prevention of corruption bill::01 January, 2000::Appendix

Appendix B

Orders of reference for the Joint Committee on Finance & the Public Service

Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service

ORDERS OF REFERENCE

Dáil Éireann


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


(1)(a)That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service, 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 the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance, 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.


(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 their ex officio membership of the Select Committee in accordance with Standing Order 84(1), the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance (or a Minister or Minister of State nominated in their 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 Finance and the Public Service to consider—


(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance 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 Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance are officially responsible as it may select,


(iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance 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 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 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.


SEANAD ÉIREANN

19th November, 1997:


Ordered:


(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 Finance and the Public Service to consider -


(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance 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 Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance are officially responsible as it may select,


(iii)the strategy statement laid before each House of the Oireachtas by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance 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 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.