Committee Reports::Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, 2004 and Work Programme 2005::17 May, 2005::Report


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TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Sóisialacha agus Teaghlaigh

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2004

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2005

Bealtaine 2005

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2005

May 2005

Annual Report 2004 and Work Programme 2005

1.	Content and Format of Report	3
2.	Functions and Powers	3
3.	Chairman, Vice Chairman, Convenors and Membership	4
4.	Meetings, Attendance and Recording	4
5.	Number and Duration of Meetings	5
6.	Work of the Committee	5
7.	Groups and Individuals attending before Committee	6
8.	Reports	7
9.	Travel	7
10.	Functions and Powers	7
APPENDIX 1 - Orders of Reference		8
APPENDIX 2 - Members of the Joint Committee		12
APPENDIX 3 - Meetings of the Joint Committee		13
APPENDIX 4 - Meetings of the Dáil Select Committee		15
APPENDIX 5 - Minutes of Proceedings of the Joint Committee		16
APPENDIX 6 - Work Programme 2005		41

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 17 May 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 Department of Social and Family 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 2002, to form the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs. Among the principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider —

•public affairs administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs

•matters of policy for which the Minister for Social and Family 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 Willie Penrose was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 12 November 2002. Deputy Donal Moynihan was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on the same day . The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies John Carty and Michael Ring 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, Select Committee and sub-Committee(s) 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 by RTE and TV3.

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 Social and Family 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 16 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 16 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 6 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 18 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 16 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Work Programme

•Administration of Unemployment Benefit, Unemployment Assistance and Disability Benefit Schemes

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals

•Farm Assist Programme

•Immigration issues

•Difficulties raised by members of the RTE Pensioners Association regarding Social Welfare benefits

•Fair Trade Tea and Coffee products being stocked by Department of Social and Family Affairs and Bodies under the aegis of the Department

•National Anti — Poverty Strategy 2003 — 2005

•Consumer debt litigation

•Rent Supplement Scheme

•Key priorities of the budget 2005 from the perspective of the Combat Poverty Agency

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

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 6 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Civil Registration Bill, 2003

•Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2004

•Social Welfare Bill, 2004

•Revised Estimate for 2004, Vote 38 — Social and Family Affairs

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

•Officals of the Department of Social and Family Affairs

•Immigrant Council of Ireland

•RTE Pensioners Association

•Church of Ireland parishes in Co Westmeath

•Disability Federation of Ireland

•Money Advice and Budgeting Service

•Free Legal Aid Centres

•Combat Poverty Agency

•Centrecare

8. 8.1 Joint Committee Reports

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

•No reports published.

8.2 Work in Progress

•Work Programme 2005.

9. Travel

The Joint Committee undertook no travel in the year under report.

10. Functions and Powers

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

____________________

William Penrose, T.D.

Chairman

17 May 2005.