Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2000 > Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation > Report - Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation Work of the Joint Committee

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

_______________________

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL ón gComhchoiste um Thurasóireacht, Spórt agus Áineas Obair an Chomhchoiste

ANNUAL REPORT of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation Work of the Joint Committee

1998-1999

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

_______________________

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL ón gComhchoiste um Thurasóireacht, Spórt agus Áineas Obair an Chomhchoiste

ANNUAL REPORT of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation Work of the Joint Committee

1998-1999

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

At its meeting on 27th January, 2000, the Committee agreed that all these items be included in its annual report.

2. Functions and Powers of the Joint Committee

The Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation was established by Order of Dáil Éireann of 20th November, 1997 and Order of Seanad Éireann of 26th 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

•legislation 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 (1)(a)(iv) added) and the Orders of Reference of the Joint Committee, as so modified, are set out at Appendix 1.

In addition to existing functions and powers of the Committee, further powers were accorded to the Committee by a resolution of Dáil Éireann of 2 July 1999 to amend Standing Order 78A of Dáil Standing Orders, enabling the Committee to ‘consider and report to Dáil Éireann on such proposals for EU Legislation as may be referred to it from time to time by any Committee established by Dáil Éireann (whether acting jointly with the Seanad or otherwise) to consider such proposals and upon which has been conferred the power to refer such proposals to another Select Committee’. A corresponding provision was made by way of amendment to Standing Order 65 of Standing Orders of Seanad Éireann on 30 June 1999.

3. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Convenors and Membership

Deputy Michael Ferris was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 9 December, 1997. Deputy Mary Coughlan was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 9 December, 1997. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies Michael Joe Cosgrave and Matt Brennan 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. 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 Leister House complex and was available for subsequent public broadcasting by R.T.É.

Verbatim written reports of public meetings of the Select Committee in relation to Bills and Estimates for the Public Services, Vote 35 Tourism, Sport and Recreation 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 Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of these reports is set out at Section 8.

5. Number and Duration of Meetings

The Joint Committee met on 9 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 9 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out at Appendix 3.

The Dáil Select Committee met on 4 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 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 9 occasions the Committee met it dealt with the following matters:

•Report on the Protection of Children in Sport

•Regional Tourism Development

•FAI Arena Stadium Development

•Tourism towards 2000 by Bord Fáilte

•Real Tennis Court in Earlsfort Terrace

•Tourist shooting industry

•Aer Lingus direct flights to and from the west coast of America

•Community Games National Headquarters

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 4 occasions the Committee met it dealt with the following matters:

•Supplementary Estimate 1998 - Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation

•Irish Sports Council Bill, 1998

•Revised Estimate 1999 - Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation

•Scheduling of the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, 1998

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

•The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation

•The Football Association of Ireland

•Shannon Development

•Tipperary Lakeside

•Bord Fáilte Éireann

•Irish Real Tennis Association

•Ticket Master

•Game Shoot Operators

•Aer Lingus

•Planet

•Community Games

•Town and Country Homes Association

8. Committee Reports and Resolutions

8.1 Joint Committee

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

•Annual Report, 1997/1998

•Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation entitled “The Imbalance in Regional Tourism Growth”

•Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation on “Report on the Protection of Children in Sport”

8.2 Select Committee

The Select Committee also passed the following motion:

“That the Select Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation

- notes that at the Second Stage of the Prohibition of Ticket Touts Bill, 1998, Dáil Eireann agreed that in accordance with Standing Order 104 and paragraph 1 (a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of the Select Committee, the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation;

- acknowledges that there are many complex issues to be considered before consideration of the Bill by the Committee;

- notes that the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation is in consultation with a number of other Government Departments and sporting organisations in relation to the Bill and accepts that this consultation process will take some time to complete;

- requests the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation to continue with his consideration of the issues involved to allow the Committee to complete its consideration of the Bill at the earliest possible date.”

9. Work in Progress

The Committee continues to be concerned in relation to the regional imbalance in tourism growth and development and will be visiting the regions to consider the matter in greater detail with the regional bodies and groups.

The Committee is also concerned about the ongoing drugs problem and will be appointing a rapportuer to prepare a report for the Committee to consider available options.

The Committee is also very pleased that Ireland has secured the hosting of the 2003 Special Olympics and will be looking at ways in which it can assist this important venture.

A copy of the Joint Committees’ work programme for 1999/2000 is at Appendix 8.

10. Travel by the Joint Committee

The Committee undertook the following travel in accordance with its orders of reference in connection with its work programme.

(i) San José - 6/9 December, 1998

The Committee sent a delegation to San José, California at the invitation of the Dublin/San José Sister City Committee. The main purposes of the visit were to investigate the potential of developing tourism between the west coast of the USA and Ireland, and the question of direct flights between the two areas. The delegation consisted of the Chairman, Deputies Matt Brennan, Michael Joe Cosgrave, Liam Aylward and Bernard Allen.

(ii) Irish Hotel Federation AGM, Bundoran - 23 February, 1999

The Chairman accepted an invitation by the Irish Hotel Federation to attend their AGM on 23 February, 1999.

(iii) International Tourism Exchange, Berlin - 7/9 March, 1999

The Committee attended the ITB (International Tourism Exchange) in Berlin on 7/9 March at the invitation of Bord Failte to consider the promotion of the Irish tourism product in the very competitive international market. The delegation comprised of the Chairman and Deputy Matt Brennan.

(iv) Second Tourism Parliamentary Day, Budapest - 12/14 October, 1999

The Chairman attended the Hungarian Second Tourism Parliamentary Day, held in Budapest, at the invitation of the Hungarian State Secretary for Tourism. The Chairman addressed the Parliament and a Committee, on tourism and sports matters, in particular, in the light of Hungary’s accession to the E.U.

(v) World Travel Market, London - 16/17 November, 1999

The Committee attended the World Travel Market in London on 16/17 November and other additional meetings. The World Travel Market is the largest travel industry show in the world. The delegation comprised of Deputies Mary Coughlan, Bernard Allen, Breeda Moynihan Cronin, and Senators Ernie Caffrey and Willie Farrell.

11. Function and Powers

For the purpose of its consideration of current matters, the Committee is happy with its present procedures and role.

Michael Ferris, T.D.

Chairman of the Joint Committee

January, 2000

(Note: This annual report was agreed by the Joint Committee at its meeting on 27th January, 2000)