Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2005 > Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 2004 and Work Programme 2005

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

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

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2004

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2005

Feabhra 2005

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

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

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2005

February 2005

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

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

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2004

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2005

Feabhra 2005

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

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

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2005

February 2005

Annual Report 2004 and Work Programme 2005

Table of Contents

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 2^nd February 2005 , 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 Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

•matters of policy for which the Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are responsible

•legislative and expenditure proposals of both Departments

•scrutiny of EU legislative proposals

•certain matters relating to bodies under the aegis of each 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 19 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 29 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 7 below and at Appendix 3.

The Dáil Select Committee met on 3 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 4 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 7 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 19 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

Annual Report 2003 and Work Programme 2004.

The importance of Volunteering in Ireland

Discussion with the President of the GAA, Mr. Seán Kelly on volunteers and the G.A.A.

Discussions on the Irish Team performance at the Athens Olympiad

Consideration of Horse & Greyhound Fund Regulations 2004.

The Performing Arts in Ireland

Presentation by the Arts Council on issues relating to the Arts in general

Discussion with the National Drugs Strategy Review Group

Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals

Women in Sport

Consideration of three Reports

A copy of the Joint Committee’s work programme for 2005 is at Appendix 6. .

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 3 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

Revised Estimates for the year 2004 for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Votes 24 and 27.

Revised Estimates 2004 for Dept of Arts, Sport & Tourism: Vote 35.

Consideration of Supplementary Estimates 2004,

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

ALONE

Alzheimer Society of Ireland

AWARE

Business in the Community

CONCERN

Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (G.A.A.)

Development Co-operation Ireland,

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Feis Ceoil

Glencree Centre for Reconciliation

GOAL

GORTA

Irish Federation of Sport

Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)

Malachy Logan from the Irish Times

Muintir na Tíre

P.J. Cunningham from the Irish Independent

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP)

Special Olympics Ireland

The Arts Council

The Department Arts, Sport and Tourism.

The Irish Red Cross

The Irish Sailing Association.

The Irish Sports Council

The National Coaching and Training Centre

The National Youth Council

The Olympic Council of Ireland

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps-

The Wheel

Theatre Forum

TROCAIRE

Volunteer Centres Ireland

Volunteering Ireland

8. 8.1 Joint Committee Reports

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

8.2 Work in Progress

Athens Review

Rapporteur Studies

9. Travel

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

10. Functions and Powers

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

____________________

Cecilia Keaveney, T.D.

Chairman

February, 2005.