|
|
|
|
TITHE AN OIREACHTAISAn Comhchoiste um Thalmhaíocht agus BiaTUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2005agusCLÁR OIBRE 2006Feabhrá 2006HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTASJoint Committee on Agriculture and FoodANNUAL REPORT 2005andWORK PROGRAMME 2006February 2006
TITHE AN OIREACHTAISAn Chomhchoiste um Thalmhaíocht agus BiaTUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2005agusCLÁR OIBRE 2006Feabhrá 2006HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTASJoint Committee on Agriculture and FoodANNUAL REPORT 2005andWORK PROGRAMME 2006February 2006Annual Report 2005 and Work Programme 2006Table of Contents
1. Content and Format of ReportThis 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 8th February 2006, the Joint Committee agreed that all these items should be included in this annual report. 2. Functions and PowersThe 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 Agriculture and Food. 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 Agriculture and Food. 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 Agriculture and Food 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 MembershipDeputy Johnny Brady was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 12 November, 2002. Deputy Máire Hoctor was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 24 November 2004 replacing Deputy Michael Moynihan. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee. Deputies Denis Naughten and Sean O’Feargháil are the Convenors of the Committee. On 20th October 2004 Deputy Billy Timmins was replaced by Deputy Denis Naughten as Opposition Convenor. The function of the Convenor 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 RecordingMeetings 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 all public broadcasters. 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 Agriculture and Food, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of these reports is set out at paragraph 9. 5. Number and Duration of MeetingsThe Joint Committee met on twenty two occasions in the period under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of forty five 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 five occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of nine 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 Committee6.1 Joint CommitteeOn the twenty two occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters: •Veterinary Practices Bill, 2004 - Meeting with Veterinary Council of Ireland •Veterinary Practices Bill, 2004 - Meeting with Veterinary Ireland. •Nitrates Directive - Discussion with Officials from the Department of Environment and Local Government and Department of Agriculture and Food •(1) overview of Agriculture; (2) CAP; (3) Fees payable by potato growers; (4) Nitrates Directive; (5) Sugar regime - Discussion with Ms Mary Coughlan Minister for Agriculture and Food •Veterinary Practices Bill, 2004 - Meeting with Veterinary Officers Association •Closure of Sugar Factor in Carlow - Discussion with Greencore Group plc, SIPTU and IFA •Section 17A of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 — Discussion with Minister for Agriculture and Food •Problems facing Irish Farmers - Presentation by Mr John Dillon, President IFA •Problems facing Irish Farming - Presentation by ICSA, Nitrates Directive - Presentation by ICMSA •Meeting with Officials from the Slovenian Parliament •Agricultural Appeals Office Annual Report 2003 - Discussion with representatives of the Agricultural Appeals Office •Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Systems - Presentation by Conservation Agriculture Ireland •Special Beef Premium Penalty on Livestock Farmers - Presentation by the IFA •Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals - COM (2004) 712 Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations (EEC) No. 2759/75, (EEC) No. 277175. (EEC) No. 2777/75, (EC) No. 1254/1999, (EC) No. 1255/1999 and (EC) No. 2529/2001 as regards exceptional market support measures — Discussion with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food •Imminent Closure of Teagasc Advisory Offices - Discussion with Teagasc •Implementation of Veterinary Directive (2004/28/EC) - Discussion with Pharmaceutical Union, Animal and Plant Health Association and IFA •Consolidation of Single Farm Payments for Irish Potato Growers — Presentation by the IFA Potato Committee •Facing the Challenges of Future of Agriculture - Presentation by Mr Brian McKenna, Head of College of Life Sciences and Food, UCD •Agenda for Women in Agriculture - Discussion with Members of the Australian Agriculture Movement •Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2005) 263 - Proposal for Council Regulations to reform the EU Sugar Regime - Discussion with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food •WTO Negotiations - Presentation by the IFA •Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: (1) COM (2005) 304 - Proposal for a Council Decision on Community strategic guidelines for Rural Development (Programming period 2007-2013) Discussion with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food and Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (2) COM(2005) 396 - Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the provisional prohibition in Greece of the marketing of seeds of maize hybrids with the genetic modification MON 810 inscribed in the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species, pursuant to Directive 2002/53/EC3 — Discussion with officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government •Current World Trade Talks - Presentation by Trade Matters •Update on WTO Negotiations - Discussion with Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food •WTO Negotiations - Presentation by the ICMSA, •Impact of Nitrates Action Plan on Intensive Agriculture Producers - Discussion with officials from the Department of Agriculture & Food and the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government •Pension Issues for Farmers - Discussion with Officials from Department of Social and Family Affairs A copy of the Joint Committee’s Work Programme for 2006 is at Appendix 6. 6.2 Dáil Select CommitteeOn the five occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters: •Motion re the accession by Ireland to the Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in International Trade •2005 Revised Estimates for Public Services, Vote 31 (Agriculture and Food) •Veterinary Practice Bill, 2004 •Land Bill, 2004 •Supplementary Estimate for Department of Agriculture and Food — Vote 31 7. Groups and Individuals attending before CommitteeIn the year under report, the Joint Committee met with the following organisations, groups and individuals: •The Minister for Agriculture and Food •Various Semi State Bodies •Numerous organisations connected with agriculture and food and officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food 8. 8.1 Joint Committee ReportsDuring the year under report, the Joint Committee published the following reports: •Report on the Operation of the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming — February 2005 •EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2004) 712 Report on COM (2004) 712 Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations (EEC) No. 2759/75, (EEC) No. 2771/75, (EEC) No. 2777/75, (EC No. 1254/99, (EEC) No. 1255/99 and (EC) No. 2529/2001 as regards exceptional market support measures •EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2005) 263 Proposal for a Council Regulation to Reform the EU Sugar Regime •EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2005) 304 Proposal for a Council Regulation on Community Strategic Guidelines for Rural Development (Programming period 2007-2013) •EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2005) 396 Proposal for Council Decision concerning the provisional prohibition in Greece of the marketing of seeds of maize hybrids with the genetic modification MON 810 inscribed in the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species, pursuant to Directive 2002/53/EC •Report of the Visit to Cork, 11-12 July 2005 •Report of the Visit to Donegal, 26-27 September 2005 •Report of the Visit to Spain, 6-10 November 2005 •Report of the Conference of National Parliaments of the EU and the European Parliament, Westminister London, - 20th and 21st November 2005 •Report of the Hong Kong Session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, 12 and 15 December 2005 8.2 Work in ProgressScrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals - Report on any outstanding EU Legislative Proposals referred to the Joint Committee by the Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny. 9. TravelThe Joint Committee undertook the following travel in accordance with its Orders of Reference in connection with its work programme.
10. Functions and PowersThe Joint Committee is currently satisfied with its present procedures and role. ____________________ Johnny Brady, T.D. Chairman 8th February 2006 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
