Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2005 > Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation, 2004 and Work Programme 2005

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Iompar

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2004

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2005

Meán Fómhair 2005

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Transport

ANNUAL REPORT 2004

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2005

September 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 12^th 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 Department of Transport.

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 Transport. Among the principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider—

•public affairs administered by the Department(s) of

•matters of policy for which the Minister for Transport 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 John Ellis was elected, in place of Deputy Eoin Ryan, as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 17^th November 2004. Deputy Peter Power was elected, in place of Deputy John Ellis, as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 17^th November 2004. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies Ollie Wilkinson and Seamus Healy 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 and Dáil 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.

5. Number and Duration of Meetings

The Joint Committee met on 22 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 37 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 7 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 15 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 22 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Road Safety

•Aer Lingus

•LUAS Safety

•Aviation matters and future of the industry

•Rail network development

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative proposals

•Road Development (the proposed M3 Motorway)

•Bus Licensing

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

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 7 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Aer Lingus Bill 2003

•Air Navigation and Transport (International Conventions) Bill 2004

•State Airports Bill 2004

•Road Traffic Bill 2004

•2004 Revised Estimates for Public Services — Transport (Vote 32)

•Supplementary Estimate — Transport (Vote 32).

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

•National Roads Authority

•Iarnród Éireann

•Officials from the Department of Transport

•Aer Lingus

•Officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

•An Garda Siochana

•The National Safety Council

•Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, TD

•Taxi Hardship Panel

•Chamber of Commerce Ireland

•Central Representative Council (Aer Lingus unions)

•Delegation from the Committee on Economics of the Hungarian Parliament

•Railway Procurement Agency

•Connex Transport Ireland.

8. Joint Committee Reports

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

•Proposal for a Dublin Metro System

•Annual Report 2002/3 and Work Programme 2004

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 will continue to consider its present procedures and role.

________________

John Ellis, T.D.

Chairman

21 September 2005