Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2000 > Committee on Enterprise and Small Business > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, 2000

DÁIL ÉIREANN

TUARASCÁIL

ón gChomhchoiste um Fhiontraíocht agus Mionghnóthaí don bhliain dar críoch 31 Nollaig 2000

REPORT

of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for the year ending 31 December 2000

REPORT

of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for the year ending 31 December 2000

Table of Contents

1. Chairmans Introduction

I am pleased to report on the work of this Committee up to 31 December 2000. 2000 has been a busy year for the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business. We have completed and published two reports, one on the superstore issue and one on the Groceries Order.

We have also commenced an investigation into the high cost of motor insurance for young male drivers and this will during 2001.

In addition the Select Committee have dealt with a number of bills throughout the year.

I would envisage that the year 2001 will be an equally busy and I hope equally fruitful year for the Joint and Select Committees.

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

January 2001

2. Establishment of Committee

The Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business was established by an order in Dáil Éireann on 13 November 1997 and by order of Seanad Éireann on 19 November 1997. Under Section 2 of the order of Dáil Éireann the Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business shall be joined with the Select Committee of Seanad Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.

Under Standing Order 79A (6) such Select Committee shall, on the anniversary of its appointment in each year following the year of such appointment, make an annual report to Dáil Éireann which shall detail-

(i)the work carried out by the Select Committee; and

(ii)the work in progress by the Select Committee,

and may include, if the Select Committee deems appropriate, the report on its procedures and its role (in which case, a copy of the annual report shall be forwarded to the Committee on Procedures and Privileges), the work programme and minutes of proceedings referred to in paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) respectively of this Standing Order.

The following Members of Dáil Éireann currently serve on the Joint and Select Committee:

Deputies Seán Ardagh, Andrew Boylan, Ivor Callely, Michael Creed, Austin Currie, Brendan Daly, Michael D’Arcy, Joe Higgins, Conor Lenihan, John McGuinness, Denis Naughten, Noel O’Flynn, Batt O’Keeffe and Pat Rabbitte.

The following Members of Seanad Éireann currently serve on the Joint Committee:

Senators Paul Coghlan, Margaret Cox, Willie Farrell, Jim Gibbons, Mary Henry

The first Meeting of the Joint Committee was held on 2 December 1997. Deputy Ivor Callely T.D. was elected as Chairman with Deputy Michael D’Arcy being elected as vice-Chairman.

3. Meetings of the Joint Committee and Select Committee

The Joint Committee and Select Committee met on a total of 36 occasions during the period covered by the report. Details of the meetings are as follows:

4. Legislation

Bills referred to the Dáil Select Committee which passed Committee stage in 2000:

National Training Fund Bill, 2000

Cement (Repeal of Enactments) Bill, 1999.

Insurance Bill, 1999.

National Minimum Wage Bill, 2000

Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 1999 Seanad

5. Estimates for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

In the course of the period under review, the Dáil Select Committee considered and reported to the Dáil on grants for public services for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

6. Research and Projects undertaken by members of the Committee

The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Deputy Callely, led a delegation of six members on a fact finding visit to Italy between the 16th and 23rd September. The members who travelled were Deputies Ardagh, Callely, D’Arcy, O’Keeffe, Stanton and Rabbitte. The delegation went to Milan, Rome, Naples and Sicily and had a number of wide ranging meetings. They felt that there was a genuine interest fely by all of the groups they met, in developing trade relations between the two countries, Italy currently being Irelands eighth largest trading partner.

7. Meetings with Delegations.

The Joint Committee met a delegation from the Labour and Social Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, Germany, jointly with the Joint Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs on 20 June 2000. The discussion covered economic activity, inflation and the difficulties in attracting people back into the labour force.

8. Summary of work carried out in 2000.

In the course of the year 2000, the Joint Committee continued its work on the implications of the growth in Ireland of superstores and multiples. It continued to press for the retention of the Groceries Order and this was in fact retained by the Government. It began an investigation into the area of motor insurance and particularly the high cost of insurance for young male drivers. The Joint Committee also met jointly with the Joint Committee on Health and Children to discuss the area of alternative medicines.

Presentations made to the Joint Committee during 2000 are as follows:

9 Review of the Joint Committees Role and Procedures

10 Reports Produced by the Joint Committee

The following reports have been adopted and published by the Joint Committee during the Year 2000.

Report on the Groceries Order: February 2000.

Developments in Relation to UK Supermarket Trading Practices & Retail Planning June 2000.