Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2001 > Committee on Enterprise and Small Business > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, 2001

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL

ón gComhchoiste um Fhiontraíocht agus Mionghnóthai don bhliain dar críoch 31 Nollag 2001

ANNUAL REPORT

of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business for the year ending 31 December 2001

2001

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

2. Functions and Powers of the Joint Committee

The Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business was established ây Order of Dáil Éireann of 13 November, 1997, and by Order of Seanad Éireann of 19 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 14 February 2001 (new subparagraph (1)(a)(iii) 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.

3. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Convenors and Membership

Deputy Ivor Callely was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 02 December 1997. Deputy Michael D'Arcy was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies Andrew Boylan and John McGuinness 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 Committee at it's meeting of 10 March 1998, established an ad hoc Working Group to examine the feasibility of fact finding visits to countries which had dealt with the impact on small towns of large superstores and also had to deal with other matters which might be referred to it by the Joint Committee.

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 Leinster House 2000. 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 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 34, Enterprise and Small Business 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 Enterprise and Small Business, 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 18 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 27 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out at Appendix 3.

The Dáil Select Committee met on 13 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 20 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 occasions the Committee met it dealt with the following matters:

The following issues were considered:

•Consideration of Draft Regulations:

-Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996 (Employment in Licensed Premises) Regulations 2001

-Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996 (Bar Apprentices) Regulations 2001

-Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997(Relevant Company) Regulations 2001

-Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) Regulations 2001

•Annual Report 2000

•Draft Work Programme

•Issues relating to costs for Rural Publicans

•Issues relating to the training and employment for people with disabilities

•Security issues in connection with the introduction of the Euro

•Motor Insurance (especially regarding Young Drivers)

•Road Accident Statistics

•Oil Prices

•Regulations on Motor Vehicle Type Approval

•Annual Report of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

•Issues relating to genetics

•Irish beef trade with Egypt

•Competition issues including sourcing of product in Ireland

•E – Commerce

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

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

•Part-Time Workers Bill

•Protocol on the Madrid Agreement

•Estimates - Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment

•Supplementary Estimates - Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment

•Company Law Enforcement Bill, 2000

•Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2000

•Consideration of the terms of agreement on Scientific and Technological Co-Operation between the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and the Government of Ireland

•Carers Leave Bill, 2000

•Nitrigin Éireann Teoranta Bill, 2000

•Industrial Designs Bill, 2000

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

▪Officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

▪Garda National Traffic Bureau.

▪Allianz.

▪Dublin Corporation.

▪Officials of the Department of Environment and Local Government.

▪Rehab Group.

▪Director of Public Affairs and Care Services.

▪FÁS.

▪Officials of the Department of Finance.

▪Officials of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

▪Vintners Federation.

▪Irish Insurance Federation.

▪Dr Ray Fuller, Trinity College, Dublin.

▪National Youth Council of Ireland.

▪Chief Superintendent John O'Brien, Garda Headquarters.

▪Euro Changeover Board.

▪Tillinghast - Towers Perrin.

▪Non Life Insurance.

▪RGDATA

8. Joint Committee Reports

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

•The Supermarkets – Giving Consumers a Fair Deal?, A Review of the Competition Commission Study on the Supply of groceries from multiple stores in the United Kingdom.

9. Work in Progress

A copy of the Joint Committees’ work programme is at Appendix 8.

10. Travel by the Joint Committee

(a)Four Committee members travelled to Madrid in May 2001 to attend the XIIth EUREKA inter-parliamentary Conference on Science and Technology and presented a report to the Committee.

(b)One Committee member travelled to Brussels in June 2001 to attend the Round Table of Temporary European Parliament Committee on Human Genetics and presented a report to the Committee.

11. Function and Powers

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.

___________________________

Ivor Callely, T.D.

Chairman of the Joint Committee

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

APPENDIX 1

Orders of Reference

Dáil Éireann

Order of 20 November 1997, (* 28 April 1998), (** 14 February 2001)

(1)(a)That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, 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 Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

(ii)Estimates for Public Services within the aegis of that Department, as shall be referred to it by Dáil Éireann from time to time.

(iii)**Proposals contained in any motion, including any motion within the meaning of Standing Order 149(A) concerning the approval by the Dáil of international agreements involving a charge on public funds, 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 Social, Community and Family Affairs (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 Enterprise and Small Business to consider-

(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 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

Order of 19 November, 1997,(* 30 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 Enterprise and Small Business to consider-

(i)such public affairs administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 62(A) (1) to (9) inclusive.

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

APPENDIX 2

Members of the Joint Committee

List of Members

Deputy Pat Rabbitte was appointed in place of Deputy Tommy Broughan on 24 February, 1999

Deputy Denis Naughten was appointed in place of Deputy Nora Owen on 29 June, 2000

Deputy Michael Creed was appointed in place of Deputy John Perry on 29 June, 2000

Deputy Austin Currie was appointed inplace of Deputy David Stanton on 7 November, 2000

Deputy Charles Flanagan was appointed in place of Deputy Denis Naughton on 29 March, 2001

Deputy John Perry was appointed in place of Deputy Michael Creed on 29 March, 2001

Deputy Louis Belton was appointed in place of Deputy Austin Currie on 29 March, 2001

APPENDIX 3

Meetings of the Joint Committee

APPENDIX 4

Meetings of the Dáil Select Committee

APPENDIX 5

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee

*₁ Deputy Louis Belton was appointed in place of Deputy Austin Currie on 29th March 2001

*₂ Deputy Charles Flanagan was appointed in place of Deputy Denis Naughton on 29th March 2001

*₃ Deputy Charles Flanagan was appointed in place of Deputy Denis Naughton on 29th March 2001

Attendance at Meetings of the Joint Committee (continued)

P Indicates Member was present at meeting

O Indicates Member was absent from meeting

A Indicates apologies were sent

* Indicates Member was represented by a Substitute

APPENDIX 6

Attendance at Meetings of the Dáil Select Committee

P Indicates Member was present at meeting

O Indicates Member was absent from meeting

A Indicates apologies were sent

* Indicates Member was represented by a Substitute

** Deputy Brian Hayes was appointed in place of Deputy Seymour Crawford on 29 March, 2001

APPENDIX 7

Minutes of proceedings of the Joint Committee

Minutes of meeting of 9 January 2001

1.The Joint Committee met at 11.xx a.m. in Room G5, Kildare House.

2.Attendance

In attendance were Deputies

In attendance also were Senators

Apologies were received from Deputy Naughten.

3.Minutes

The minutes of 12 December 2000 were agreed.

4.Presentations on Motor Insurance and

The Chairman welcomed two delegations -

Ms. Ann Troy, Mr. Brian D’Alton and Mr. Joe O’Rourke from the Department of Enteprise, Trade and Employment

Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick and Inspector Con O’Donohoe from the Garda National Traffic Bureau.

Both delegations made presentations, the Department on the area of motor insurance and the factors affecting that and the Gardai on road accident statistics, and following the presentations there was a question and answer session with members.

The Chairman then thanked the delegations for their presentations and they then withdrew.

5.Private Session

6.Any Other Business

The Chairman noted that Deputy John McGuinness had suggested updating the rapporteur report which he had previously carried out on behalf of the Joint Committee on ecommerce and it was agreed that the issue of rapporteur reports would be considered at the next meeting.

7.Adjournment

The Chairman then reminded members of the Select Committee that they would meet to consider the Company Law Enforcement Bill on Wednesday 17 January at 2.00 p.m. in G5. He adjourned the meeting until Tuesday 23rd January at 5.00 p.m.

___________________________

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

January 2001

Minutes of meeting of 23 January 2001

1.The Joint Committee met at 5.07 p.m. in Room G2, Kildare House. Deputy D'Arcy vice Chairman took the Chair. Deputy Callely took the Chair at 5.15 p.m.

2.Attendance

In attendance were Deputies Ardagh, Boylan, Callely, D'Arcy, Higgins, McGuinness, O'Keeffe and Rabbitte.

Deputy Cooper-Flynn attended in substitution for Deputy Daly and Deputy Doherty attended in substitution for Deputy O'Flynn.

In attendance also were Senators Coghlan, Cox, Farrell, Gibbons and Henry.

Apologies were received from Deputies Creed and Naughten.

3.Minutes

The minutes of 9 January 2001 were agreed.

Private Session

4.Public Session - Presentations regarding motor insurance and particularly the high cost of motor insurance for young male drivers.

The Joint Committee went into public session at 5.18 p.m.

The Chairman welcomed three delegations -

Allianz

Mr. John O'Hanlon, Group Chief Executive, Mr. David O'Connor, Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Brendan Keenan, Assoc Director.

Dublin Corporation

Mr. Owen Keegan, Director of Traffic, Mr. Michael Byrne, Road Safety Officer and Mr. Gerry O'Flaherty.

Dept of the Environment and Local Govt

Mr. John Weafer, Principal Officer, Mr. Liam Dolan, Asst Principal, Ms. Hilary Dalton, Asst Principal and Mr. Finbar Crowley from the National Roads Authority.

Each delegation made a presentation, and following the presentations there was a question and answer session with members.

The Chairman then thanked the delegations for their presentations and they then withdrew.

Following the presentations it was agreed:

Any member who wished additional interest groups to be invited to address the Committee on this issue should inform the Clerk as soon as possible

The Clerk would begin to draw up a draft report

The Clerk would follow up on any outstanding queries following the presentations heard thus far.

The Chairman also mentioned that the Joint Committee have agreed to hear from the National Youth Council on publication of their report on this issue which is due in February.

5.Adjournment

There being no other business the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7.21 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday 6 February 2001.

___________________

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

February 2001

Minutes of meeting of 6 February 2001

1.The Joint Committee met at 5.11 p.m. in Room G2, Kildare House

2.Attendance

In attendance were Deputies Boylan, Callely, (in the Chair), Higgins, McGuinness, Naughten, O'Keeffe and Rabbitte.

In attendance also were Senators Coghlan, Farrell and Gibbons.

Apologies were received from Senators Cox and Henry.

3.Minutes

The minutes of 23 January 2001 were agreed.

4.Presentation on issues relating to the training and employment of people with disabilities.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Frank Flannery, Chief Executive of Rehab Group and Ms. Angela Kerins, Director of Public Affairs and Care Services.

Following their presentation, there was a question and answer session with members.

The Chairman then thanked the delegation for their presentation and they withdrew.

Following the presentation it was agreed:

The Clerk would write to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, enclosing the submission from the Rehab Group and seeking a response to the points raised and also to the question of the 3% quota of employment of people with disabilities in the public service.

FÁS would be invited to a meeting of the Joint Committee to make a presentation on the training and employment of people with disabilities.

Following that meeting the Joint Committee would invite in both Rehab and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and other parties as agreed.

5.Correspondence

Regulations received from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment were noted.

6.Adjournment

There being no other business the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 6.33 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday 20 February 2001.

_____________________

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

February 2001

Minutes of meeting of 20 February 2001

1.The Joint Committee met at 17:40 p.m. in Room G2, Kildare House.

2.Attendance

In attendance were Deputies Callely (in the Chair), Ardagh, McGuinness, Naughten, O'Flynn and O'Keeffe.

In attendance also were Senators Coghlan and Henry.

Senator Glynn attended in substitution for Senator Farrell.

Apologies were received from Senators Cox and Gibbons.

3.Minutes

The minutes of 23 January 2001 were agreed.

4.Private Session

5.Public Session – Presentation by FÁS

The Joint Committee went into public session at 18.01 and the Chairman welcomed Mr. Rody Molloy, Mr. Gerry Pyke and Ms. Sheera Melman. Mr. Molloy then made a presentation on issues relating to the training and employment of people with disabilities, which was followed by a question and answer session with members. Following the presentation the Chairman thanked the delegation and they withdrew.

6.Adjournment

The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 18.53 until Thursday 22 February at 1.00 p.m.

__________________

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

March 2001

TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 2001

1.The Joint Committee met at 5.05 p.m. in Room 2, Leinster House 2000. Deputy D'Arcy, Vice-Chairman in the Chair.

2.Attendance

The following Members were present:

3.Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting of 6 March were agreed.

4.Employment of people with disabilities in the Civil and Public Service

On behalf of the Joint Committee the A/Chairman welcomed Mr. Joe McGovern, Assistant Secretary and Mr. John O'Connell, Principal Officer, Department of Finance and also Ms. Anne Doyle, Principal Officer and Ms. Siobhan Barron, Assistant Principal, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Following opening statements by Mr. McGovern and Ms. Doyle there followed an exchange of views on efforts being made to meet targets and raise public awareness in relation to the provision of employment opportunities for disable persons in the Civil and Public Service. Other aspects discussed included:

•The introduction of codes of practice

•Accessibility into and within buildings etc.

•Need to combat discrimination.

•Whether teleworking (working from home) for disabled people could be introduced at an early date

•Lessons to be learned from comparisons with other EU Member States.

•Need for a clearer definition of disability in the context of the workplace.

•Particular emphasis needs to be placed on eligibility for Disabled Persons' Allowances with particular reference to use of specially adapted cars for the disabled.

•Comparative statistics on illness in the workplace, i.e. able-bodied/disabled should be studied.

•In the context of a current skills shortage in Ireland every effort should be made by the relevant Departments and other agencies to generate job opportunities for the disabled in a more proactive way than heretofore.

•Concern was expressed that the original three percent target for posts for the disabled in the Civil and Public Service had not been reached over the past 20 years.

Thanking the witnesses for their contribution the A/Chairman indicated that the Committee would return to the issues raised within six months. In the meantime it was agreed that a draft report, including recommendations, would be drawn up for consideration. Agreed.

5.Any Other Business

•The A/Chairman informed the Committee that the recent report that had been adopted and published had been sent to the Tánaiste, the Minister for the Environment, the Director of Consumer Affairs and the Competition Authority for information and reaction.

•“Just in time” deliveries: Senator Henry expressed concern about the risks to the public arising from the pressures put on commercial drivers to deliver goods etc. within tight deadlines. It was agreed to pursue the question of the impact of such policies, including the effects of stress on the drivers involved.

•Senator Henry also raised the question of waste of paper due to the practice of the public and private sector rarely printing on both sides of paper used (particularly in relation to photocopying). While the issue raised did not strictly fall within the Orders of Reference of the Committee, it was agreed that the issue could be raised in the first instance with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government through the Chairman of the relevant Joint Committee.

There being no further business the Joint Committee adjourned at 6.10 p.m. until Tuesday, 3 April at 5.00 p.m.

___________________

Ivor Callely TD

Chairman

April 2001

Minutes of meeting of 3 April 2001.

1.The Joint Committee met at 17.02. in Room 2, LH 2000, Leinster House.

2.Attendance

In attendance were Deputies Callely (in the Chair), Boylan, Flanagan, Higgins, Lenihan, McGuinness, O'Flynn, O'Keeffe and Rabbitte.

In attendance also were Senators Coghlan, Gibbons and Henry.

Apologies were received from Senator Cox.

3.Minutes

The minutes of 20 March 2001 were agreed.

4.It was agreed that the Committee would send a letter of sympathy to the Tánaiste and her family on the death of her father.

5.Motor Insurance

There was a discussion on motor insurance and recent media coverage of the MIAB interim report. The following items were agreed:

•The Equality Authority would be contacted and requested to investigate alleged discrimination based on age and gender in the insurance area.

•The Irish Insurance Federation and the Motor Insurance Advisory Board should be invited to appear before the Joint Committee on 10 April 2001 at 5.00 p.m.

•Transcripts of meetings dealing with the motor insurance area would be published and a copy provided to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

•the proposed meeting with Mr. Peter McDonnell and colleagues would be rescheduled.

•Dr. Fuller of Trinity College would be invited to a future meeting of the Joint Committee as suggested by Deputy Higgins.

•The letter from Cllr Gerry Kelly regarding screening applicants on motor insurance was discussed and it was agreed to note it and that the Clerk would respond to Cllr. Kelly.

Letters from Deputy O'Keeffe and Deputy Lenihan regarding compellability were discussed and noted.

6.Other Correspondence

The letter from Deputy Rabbitte re inviting the Competition Authority in to a future meeting of the Joint Committee was agreed.

The letter regarding the European Parliament Seminar on Trade, Development and Democracy in Brussels on 10 and 11 April was discussed and it was agreed that if the notice was too short to allow members to travel then the Clerk would get the documentation from the conference. It was also agreed that the Clerk would try and ensure that longer notice is provided in the future.

The invitation to a EUREKA Interparliamentary conference in Madrid on 16 to 18 May 2001 was discussed and it was agreed that up to four members would travel and that the convenors would provide the names to the Clerk.

7.Acknowledgement to Deputy Naughten

The Chairman and the Joint Committee acknowledged the contribution which Deputy Naughten had made to the work of the Joint Committee and requested that the Oppositions spokesperson and convenor would pass on their thanks to Deputy Naughten.

8.Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned until at 6.07 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. on April 10, 2001.

_____________________

Ivor Callely T.D.

Chairman

April 2001

Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business

Minutes of 1 May 2001

1.The meeting commenced at 5.13 p.m. in Room 2, Leinster House.

In attendance were Deputy Callely in the Chair and Deputies Belton, Boylan, Daly, D'Arcy, Flanagan, Joe Higgins, C. Lenihan, McGuinness, O'Flynn and B O'Keeffe, and Senator Coghlan.

Deputy P. Carey attended in substitution for Deputy Ardagh.

2.Private Session

3.Correspondence

The letter from Mr. Conan McKenna, Head of Administration, regarding availability of resources due to Parliamentary Inquiries was noted.

The letter from the Director of Consumer Affairs was noted and it was agreed that it would be put on the agenda for a future meeting.

The letter from Mr. McSweeney was noted and it was agreed to forward this to the Director of Consumer Affairs.

The letter from Dep Roche re the Part Time Workers Bill was discussed and it was agreed that he would be advised that his concerns were noted and that the Bill would be dealt with by the Committee following the NET Bill. The Chairman noted members comments and advised members that he would raise the issue of resources with the Working Group of Committee Chairmen.

The letter from the Irish Insurance Federation was noted, indicating that they would attend on 8^th May 2001.

Deputy D'Arcy then took the Chair.

4.Public Session: Presentation by the Vintners Federation

The Chairman welcomed Mr. Dick Dunne and Mr. Tadhg O'Sullivan from the Vintners Federation who made a presentation which was followed by a question and answer session with the members.

5.Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6.27 p.m. until Tuesday May 8^th at 4.00 p.m.

_________________________________

Ivor Callely

Chairman of the Joint Committee

June, 2001

Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business

Minutes of Meeting of 29 May, 2001

1.The meeting commenced at 5.15p.m. in Room 2, Leinster House 2000.

In attendance were Deputies Callely, Joe Higgins, C. Lenihan, McGuinness, O’Flynn, B O’Keeffe, Perry and Rabbitte and Senators Coghlan, Gibbons and Henry.

An apology for inability to attend was received from Senator Cox.

2.Public Session: Presentation on Motor Insurance by Dr Ray Fuller, Trinity College, Dublin.

In the absence of the Chairman, Deputy Lenihan took the Chair at 5.15pm.

Deputy Callely took the Chair at 5.19pm. and welcomed Dr Fuller who made a presentation to the meeting. The presentation was followed by a question and answer session with the Members.

3.Private Session.

The Joint Committee went into private session at 6.37pm.

4.Correspondence with the Equality Authority.

The Chairman read the following letters to the meeting:

(a)Letter of 4 April 2001 from the Clerk to the Joint Committee to the Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Authority;

(b)Letter of 1 May 2001 from the Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Authority to the Clerk to the Joint Committee;

(c)Letter of 14 May 2001 from Deputy Rabbitte to the Chairman of the Joint Committee.

It was decided that copies of these letters be circulated to Members prior to the next meeting.

5.Invitation to visit Hungary Parliament.

It was decided to refer the letter of 8 May, 2001 from the Hungarian Ambassador to the Working Group.

6.Annual Report of Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, 2000.

It was decided to invite the Secretary-General of the Department to a meeting of the Joint Committee to discuss the Annual Report.

7.Parliamentary Meeting on International Trade, Geneva, 8 and 9 June 2001.

It was decided to refer this invitation issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Convenors to establish if a delegation of not more than 2 Members should attend.

8.It was decided to again contact the Motor Insurance Advisory Bureau and to contact Mr Peter McDonnell, solicitor, with a view to their making presentations to an early meeting of the Joint Committee.

9.The Chairman informed the meeting that arrangements had been made for the National Youth Council to attend the meeting of the Joint Committee arranged for 26 June, 2001.

10.The Joint Committee adjourned at 6.52pm.

__________________

Ivor Callely,

Chairman of the Joint Committee.

June 2001.

APPENDIX 8

JOINT COMMITTEE ON ENTERPRISE AND SMALL BUSINESS

WORK PROGRAMME

JOINT COMMITTEE OF ENTERPRISE AND SMALL BUSINESS.

WORK PROGRAMME: - 2001.

In accordance with Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business adopted the following work programme for 2001.

Under its Orders of Reference (attached at Appendix A) the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business will review major areas of policy falling within the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, including the following:

1.Social Welfare system: Basic income and the dignity of work; determination of minimum wage.

2.Review of Back to Work Scheme; educational opportunities for the unemployed

3.Integrated social services, including review of means tests, impact on FÁS workers, care of the elderly and disability payments.

4.National Anti Poverty Strategy.

5.Review of rent and mortgages subsidies scheme, including differential rents system, with particular reference to the impact of inflation on social welfare increases generally.

6.Review of anomalies in the social welfare system.

7.Comparative research into social welfare system in other EU Member States and applicant countries.

8.Points system; involvement of local authorities and health boards.

9.Review of social welfare services in relation to asylum seekers.

10.Impact on the family of social welfare system.

11.Review of pensions position for self-employed.

12.Review of Family Income Supplement.

13.Review of position of women in the home.

14.Review of social employment schemes.

15.General Review of the position of widows.

16.General child care issues in conjunction with a review of the position of women in the home.

17.Housing points issues, and the differing systems used from one area/local authority to another.

It should be noted that the issues listed above for inclusion in the Joint Committee’s work programme are not set down in an order of priority. The Joint Committee will decide on individual areas for review in light of its assessment of a particular need during the year. In that context it is also probable that other relevant issues, not included in the work programme, may arise from time to time, which will require urgent attention by the Joint Committee

To date

•Items 1, 2 and 14 were considered over a series of meetings at which the Departments of Social, Community & Family Affairs; Finance and Enterprise, Trade & Employment made presentations to the Committee.

•Item 3 was at least partially considered in that presentations were made by the Carers Association and the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disability Federation of Ireland regarding care of the elderly and disabled and disability payments respectively.

•Item 4 was considered and a presentation was made by the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs on the forthcoming Review of the National Anti Poverty Strategy.

•Item 9 was considered and a presentation was made by the Departments of Social, Community & Family Affairs and Justice, Equality & Law Reform on Asylum Seeker Support Services.

•Item 10 was at least partially addressed by the Select Committee, in it's consideration of the Family Support Agency Bill, 2001.

•Item 11 was considered over a series of meetings and presentations were made by the Departments of Social, Community & Family Affairs and Finance and by the Pensions Board on pension provisions.

•Reports were prepared on the following Agenda items in the context of the ‘Rapporteur’ system.

-Item 3: Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

-Items 10 and 12: Deputy Frances Fitzgerald

2002 Work Programme

The items not addressed by the Committee from this year's Work Programme can carry over to next year notwithstanding the need to prioritise other issues of emerging importance.

Strategy Statement and the Strategic Management Initiative

The Joint Committee will consider the S.M.I. documents relating to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in detail during the year and report annually on progress made by the Department.

Travel

While the Joint Committee has no specific plans to travel abroad in connection with its work, it is likely that issues will arise during 2002, which will require the Committee to attend international conferences and/or inform itself, as part of the input to issues under review etc.

* inserted by Order of the Dáil dated 28 April 1998.

** inserted by Order of the Dáil dated 14 February 2001.

* Inserted by Order of the Seanad 30 April 1998.