Committee Reports::Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, 2002-03::01 January, 2004::Report


TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Ealaíon, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2002/3

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2004

Eanáir 2004

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

ANNUAL REPORT 2002/3

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2004

January 2004


TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Chomhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Ealaíon, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2002/3

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2004

Eanáir 2004

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

ANNUAL REPORT 2002/3

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2004

January 2004

Annual Report 2002/3 and Work Programme 2004


Table of Contents


1.

Content and Format of Report

1

2.

Functions and Powers

1

3.

Chairman, Vice Chairman, Convenors and Membership

2

4.

Meetings, Attendance and Recording

2

5.

Number and Duration of Meetings

3

6.

Work of the Committee

3

7.

Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

4

8.

Reports

4

9.

Travel

5

10.

Functions and Powers

5

APPENDIX 1 - Orders of Reference

6

APPENDIX 2 - Members of the Joint Committee

10

APPENDIX 3 - Meetings of the Joint Committee

11

APPENDIX 4 - Meetings of the Dáil Select Committee

12

APPENDIX 5 - Minutes of Proceedings of the Joint Committee

13

APPENDIX 6 - Work Programme 2004

36

1. Content and Format of Report

This report has been prepared pursuant to Standing Order 84 (3), (4), (5) and (6) (Dáil Éireann) and Standing Order 69 (3), (4), (5) and (6) (Seanad Éireann) which provide for the Joint Committee to-


undertake a review of its procedure and its role generally


prepare an annual work programme


lay minutes of its proceedings before both Houses


make an annual report to both Houses .


At its meeting on 13 November 2002, the Joint Committee agreed that all these items should be included in this annual report.


2. Functions and Powers

The Dáil Select Committee was established by Order of Dáil Éireann of 16 October 2002 to consider Bills, Estimates for Public Services and the terms of any international agreement involving a charge on public funds which come within the aegis of the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.


The Dáil Select Committee under the same Order was enjoined with a Select Committee of Seanad Éireann, established by Order of Seanad Éireann of 17 October (and amended on 23 October 2002), to form the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Among the principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider —


public affairs administered by the Department(s) of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


matters of policy for which the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is responsible


legislative and expenditure proposals of the Department


scrutiny of EU legislative proposals


certain matters relating to bodies under the aegis of the Department


The Orders of Reference of the Dáil Select Committee and the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 1.


3. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Convenors and Membership

Deputy Cecilia Keaveney was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 13 November 2002. Deputy Jim Glennon was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 18 December 2002. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.


Deputies Peter Kelly and Brian O’Shea 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 and Select Committee took place in the Committee rooms in Leinster House 2000. Meetings were in public unless otherwise ordered by the Committee.


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


An Official Report (Parliamentary Debates) of the public meetings of the Committees is published and may be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Official Reports may also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas website at www.irlgov.ie/oireachtas.


Copies of other reports published by the Joint Committee may be obtained from the Clerk, Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of these reports is set out at paragraph 9.


5. Number and Duration of Meetings

The Joint Committee met on 21 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 24 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 6 below and at Appendix 3.


The Dáil Select Committee met on 11 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 21 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 6 below and at Appendix 4.


Minutes of proceedings of the Joint Committee meetings in public session are attached at Appendix 5.


6. Work of the Committee

6.1 Joint Committee

On the 21 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:


Election of Chairman/Vice Chairman


Maritime Safety Directorate


Discussion with representatives from Fossett’s Circus


2003 Special Olympics


Discussion on Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht’s plans and strategies


Discussion with Irish Rugby Football Union


Meeting with Business in the Community, Ireland


Perspectives on the Irish Language as it stands today


Review of the ESB Community Games


Progress of the Work Programme


Commission for Communications Regulation on rural telephone services


Consultation with the Federation of Irish Sports


Discussion with the Football Association of Ireland


Music Network activities


Theatre and Film issues


Hearing with the Arts Council


The Role of Women in Sport


Presentation on a new Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge


Presentation on partnerships by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


A copy of the Joint Committee’s work programme for 2004 is at Appendix 6.


6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 11 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:


Arts Bill, 2002


Consideration of Second Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism: Vote 35


Anti-Doping Convention


National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002


Official Languages Bill, 2002


Consideration of Revised Estimates 2003 for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism: Votes 35, 41 and 43


Consideration of Revised Estimates 2003 for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Votes 24 and 42


Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill, 2003


Consideration of Supplementary Estimate 2003 for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Vote 42


7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

In the year under report, the Joint Committee met with the following organisations, groups and individuals:


Mr. Maurice Mullen, Director General, Maritime Safety Directorate


Fossett’s Circus


Ms. Mary Davis, 2003 Special Olympics Executive


Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


Irish Rugby Football Union


Commission for Communications Regulation


Federation of Irish Sports


Football Association of Ireland


Business in the Community, Ireland


ESB Community Games


Music Network


Theatre Forum


Screen Producers Ireland


Arts Council


Representatives from Women in Sport


Foras na Gaeilge


8. 8.1 Joint Committee Reports

During the year under review the Joint Committee published two Reports entitled “The Arts as a Building Block” and “The Effectiveness of Youth Clubs in the local Community”.


8.2 Work in Progress

Work Programme 2004


Rapporteur Studies


9. Travel

The Joint Committee undertook the following travel in accordance with its Orders of Reference in connection with its work programme.


a) Purpose of travel:

Attendance at UN Conference on Drugs and Youth.

Date/Destination:

26-27th May 2003, Stockholm.

Members travelling:

Cecilia Keaveney, T.D.

b) Purpose of travel:

To research Music and the teaching of Music & Sport at a National and Regional Level

Date/Destination:

24-28th June 2003, Budapest.

Members travelling:

Cecilia Keaveney, T.D.; Michael Collins, T.D.; Brian O’Shea, T.D. and Senator Kieran Phelan.

c) Purpose of travel:

To examine all aspects of Music, Sport and Education in the Czech Republic.

Date of Destination:

21-25th October 2003, Prague.

Members travelling:

Cecilia Keaveney, T.D.; Fiona O’Malley, T.D. and Senator John Paul Phelan.

10. Functions and Powers

The Joint Committee is currently satisfied with its present procedures and role.


_____________________


Cecila Keaveney, T.D.


Chairman


January 2004