Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2006 > Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Sport and Recreation, 2005 and Work Programme 2006

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Iompar

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2005
agus
CLÁR OIBRE 2006

Márta 2006

_____________________________

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Transport

ANNUAL REPORT 2005
and
WORK PROGRAMME 2006

March 2006

Annual Report 2005 and Work Programme 2006

Table of Contents

1. Content and Format of Report

This Annual Report covers the period from 1^st January to 31^st December 2005.

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 22 March 2006 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 of Transport

•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 as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 17^th November 2004. Deputy Peter Power was elected 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 28 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 46 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 1 occasion in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 1 hour. 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 28 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Annual Report 2004 and Work Programme 2005

•The proposed M3 motorway

•Aviation matters

•Scrutiny of certain EU legislative proposals

•Public transport infrastructure projects

•Efficiency and sustainability in public transport systems

•North-South transportation systems

•Road safety

•Proposal for a Dublin metro system

A copy of the Joint Committee’s work programme for 2006 is attached at Appendix 6.

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 1 occasion the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matter:

•2005 Revised Estimates for Public Services — Transport (Vote) 32

7. Groups and Individuals attending before the Committee

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

•Representatives of the Public on the proposed M3 motorway

•Representatives from the Save Tara Skryne Valley Group

•Chambers of Commerce of Ireland

•National Roads Authority

•Dublin Airport Authority, Shannon Airport Authority and Cork Airport Authority

•Officials from the Department of Transport

•Iarnród Éireann

•An Taisce

•Executive Chairman of Aer Lingus

•SIPTU trade Union

•Retired Aviation Staff Asociation

•IMPACT trade Union

•Aer Lingus Craft Group of Trade Unions

•Irish Travel Agents Association

•Irish Tour Operators Federation

•Director of Consumer Affairs

•An Garda Síochána

•National Safety Council

•Railway Procurement Agency and the Department of Transport

•Mr. Martin Cullen T.D., Minister for Transport

•Commissioner for Aviation Regulation

•IBEC

•Delegation of SDLP Northern Ireland Assembly Members

•Chief Executive of Aer Lingus

•Mr. Cormac Rabbitt, Dublin Metro Group

8. Joint Committee Reports

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

•Annual Report 2004 and Work Programme 2005

•EU Scrutiny Report No 4: COM (2004) 139—Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91/144/EEC on the development of the Community’s railways

•COM (2004) 142—Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains on the Community’s rail network

•COM (2004) 143—Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on international rail passengers’ rights and obligations

•COM (2004) 144—Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services

•EU Scrutiny Report No 5:

COM (2003) 448—Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures

•EU Scrutiny Report No 6:

COM (2004) 774—Proposal for a Council Decision amending Decisions 2001/507/EC and 2001/509/EC with a view to making UN/ECE Regulations 109 and 108 on retreaded tyres compulsory

•COM (2005) 47—Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air

•EU Scrutiny Report No 7:

COM 429 (2005)—Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules in the field of civil aviation security

•EU Scrutiny Report No 8:

COM 490 (2003)—Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport

•EU Scrutiny Report No 9:

COM 628 (2003)—Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum conditions for the implementation of Directive 2002/15/EC and Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 3820/85 and 3821/85 concerning social legislation relating to road transport activities

•EU Scrutiny Report No 10:

COM 621 (2003)—Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences’

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,

22 March 2006