Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2007 > Committee on Agriculture and Food > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, 2006 and Work Programme 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Thalmhaíocht agus Bia

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2006

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2007

Feabhrá 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2007

February 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Chomhchoiste um Thalmhaíocht agus Bia

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2006

agus

CLÁR OIBRE 2007

Feabhrá 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food

ANNUAL REPORT 2006

and

WORK PROGRAMME 2007

February 2007

Annual Report 2006 and Work Programme 2007

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 24 January, 2007, 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 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 Membership

Deputy 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 20^th 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 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 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 Meetings

The Joint Committee met on twenty four occasions in the period under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of forty three 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 one occasion in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of two 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 twenty four occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Presentation on electronic classification of beef carcases

•Avian Flu

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: SEC(2005)1269 Amending letter No 1 to the preliminary draft budget for 2006 - general statement of revenue - statement of revenue and expenditure by section III - Commission

•Difficulties experienced by farmers in the Shannon Callows area

•Motion re Section 17A of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966

•Automation of beef carcasses classification

•Problems facing Irish farming

•EU Directive on the protection of chickens kept for meat production

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM(2002)559 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed

•Development of bio-fuels

•‘Europe Day’ - European Agriculture Policy — Discussion with Ms Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and Ms Mary Coughlan T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food.

•Non-implementation by Planning Authorities of recommendations on sterilization agreements under the Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM(2006)89 - Proposal for a Council Regulation on marketing standard for eggs and COM(2006)90 - Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No.1906/90 on certain marketing standards for poultry meat

•Poultry Industry and Market

•IFA Report on visit to Brazil

•Rural Planning

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM(2006)238 - Proposal for a Council Decision laying down the amount of community support to rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under Convergence Objective and COM (2005)671 - (i) Proposal for a Council Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products (ii) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No.2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto in agricultural products and foodstuffs

•Raising the age limit from 30 months for BSE testing of steers

•Transportation of animal by-products

•Standards and control of Brazilian meat imported into the EU

•Special Programme for Farmers

•WTO Negotiations and the current status of the Doha negotiations

•Contribution of the savoury snack food category to the dietary intake of Irish Children

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM (2006) 388 and COM(2006) 290-297 together with COM(2006)536-541 re: Plant Protection Products

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM(2006)78 - Authorisation of GM oilseed rape lines for import to the EC for processing into animal feed and for industrial use and COM (2006)340 - Circulation of compound feedingstuffs

•Production of bio-fuels

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: COM(2006)423, COM(2006) 425, COM(2006)427 and COM(2006)428 - Reform of the regulatory environment for food additives, food flavourings and certain food ingredients.

•Animal Welfare Issues

•Motion re. Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations 2006

A copy of the Joint Committee’s Work Programme for 2007 is at Appendix 6.

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

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

•2006 Revised Estimates for Public Services, Vote 31 (Agriculture and Food)

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

8. 8.1 Joint Committee Reports

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

•Annual Report 2005 and Work Programme 2006

EU Scrutiny Reports :

•Report No. 13: COM (2002) 504 - Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 91/68/EEC as regards reinforcement of controls on movements of ovine and caprine animals

•Report No. 14 : COM (2002) 561 - Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs

•Report No. 15: COM (2002) 729 - Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EEC) No. 3508/92

•Report No. 16: COM (2003) 50 - Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Economic Accounts for Agriculture in the Community

•Report No. 17: COM (2003) 163 — Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use Amended Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products

•Report No 18: COM (2003) 479 — Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) 1907/90 on certain marketing standards for eggs

•Report No. 19: COM (2004) 30 — Proposal for a Council Regulation on actions in the field of beekeeping

•Report No. 20: SEC (2005) 1269 — Amending letter No. 1 to the preliminary draft budget for 2006 — general statement of revenue — statement of revenue and expenditure by section III — Commission

•Report No. 21: COM (2003) 456 — Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on Community plant variety rights

•Report No. 22: COM (2002) 559 — Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed

•Report No. 23: COM (2002) 736 - Proposal for a Council Directive on Community measure for the control of foot and mouth disease and amending Directive 92/46/EEC

•Report No. 24: COM (2003) 23 — Mid-Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy

•Report No. 25: COM (2004) 490 Proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the Council on support for rural development

•Report No. 26: COM (2004) 499 Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament accomplishing a sustainable agricultural model for Europe through the reformed CAP — Sugar Reform

•Report No. 27: COM (2005) 221 - Proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.

•Report No. 28: COM (2006) 89 - Proposal for a Council Regulation on marketing standards for eggs

•Report No. 29: COM (2006) 90 — Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1906/90 on certain marketing standards for poultry meat

•Report No. 30: COM (2006) 238 — Proposal for a Council Decision laying down the amount of community support to rural development for the period from 1^st January 2007 to 31^st December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective

•Report No. 31: COM (2005) 671 - Proposal for a Council Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products and Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto in agricultural products and foodstuffs

•Report No. 32: COM(2006)388 — Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market;

COM (2006) 290 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include azinphos-methyl as active substance;

COM (2006) 291 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include carbendazim as active substance;

COM (2006) 292 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include dinocap as active substance;

COM (2006) 293 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include fenarimol as active substance;

COM (2006) 294 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include flusilazole as active substance;

COM (2006) 295 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include methamidophos as active substance;

COM (2006) 296 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include procymidone as active substance;

COM (2006) 297 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include vinclozolin as active substance;,

COM (2006) 536 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include flusilazole as active substance;

COM (2006) 537 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include methamidophos as active substance;

COM (2006) 538 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include fenarimol as active substance;

COM (2006) 539 - Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include dinocap as active substance;

COM (2006) 540 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include procymidone as active substance;

COM (2006) 541 — Proposal for a Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include carbendazim as active substance.

•Report No. 33: COM (2006) 78 - Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the placing on the market, in accordance with Directive 2001/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of oilseed rape products genetically modified for tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium

•Report No. 34 : COM (2006) 340 - Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council correcting Directive 2002/2/EC amending Council Directive 79/373/EEC on the circulation of compound feedingstuffs

Travel Reports:

•Report of the Visit to London, Conference of National Parliaments of the EU and the European Parliament, Westminister - 20 and 21 November 2005

•Report of the Visit to Croatia, 29 June - 2 July 2006

•Report of the Visit to Keenan Group, Borris, Co. Carlow, 19 September, 2006

•Report of the Meeting of the Second Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Agriculture, Strasbourg, 28-29 September, 2006

•Report of the Meeting of Agriculture Committees of EU National Parliaments and European Parliament, Helsinki, 11-13 October 2006

8.2 Work in Progress

Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals — The Joint Committee continues to report on any outstanding EU Legislative Proposals referred to the Joint Committee by the Sub-Committee on EU Scrutiny.

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.

____________________

Johnny Brady, T.D.

Chairman

January 2007