Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2007 > Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Chumarsáid, Muir agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2007

2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

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.

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 Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

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 Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Among the principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider —

•public affairs administered by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

•matters of policy for which the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 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 Noel O’Flynn was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 12 November 2002. Deputy John Perry was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 3^rd November 2004 taking over from Senator Michael Finucane. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies Eamon Ryan is the opposition Convenor of the Committee. On 25 November 2004 Deputy Martin Brady, consequent to his election as Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, was replaced as Government Convenor by Deputy Dermot Fitzpatrick. The function of the convenor 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. Establishment of Sub-Committees

Standing Order 81(3) (Dáil) and Standing Order 65(3) (Seanad) confer on Committees the power to appoint sub-Committees and to refer to such sub-Committees any matter covered by its orders of reference and to delegate any of its powers to such sub-Committees, including power to report directly to the Dáil and Seanad.

The Joint Committee agreed at its meeting on the 27 November 2002 to create a sub-Committee to consider Information Communication Technology. It was also agreed that the Sub-Committee would consist of seven Members (six Dáil and one Seanad). The Orders of Reference of the sub-Committee are set out in Appendix 1a. The Members of the sub-Committee are set out in Appendix 2a.

At its first meeting on 18 February 2003 the Sub-Committee elected Deputy Noel O’Flynn as Chairman.

The Joint Committee agreed at its meeting on the 9^th February 2005 to create a sub-Committee to consider Salmon Drift Netting, Draft Netting & Angling. It was also agreed that the Sub-Committee would consist of seven Members (six Dáil and one Seanad). The Orders of Reference of the sub-Committee are set out in Appendix 1b. The Members of the sub-Committee are set out in Appendix 2b.

At its first meeting on 4^th April 2005 the Sub-Committee elected Deputy Noel O’Flynn as Chairman.

5. 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 RTE and TV3.

An Official Report (Parliamentary Debates) of 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 Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of these reports is set out at Section 9.

6. Number and Duration of Meetings

The Joint Committee met on eight occasions to the dissolution of the Dáil. 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 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 16 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in Appendix 4.

7. Work of the Committee

7.1 Joint Committee

On the eight occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Annual Report for 2006 and Work Programme for 2007

•2 days of Public hearings [web cast] on the draft broadcasting Bill

•Discussion on matters relating to Valentia Marine Ltd with the Secretary General, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

•Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals

•Discussion with Mr. Bartho Pronk (Commissioner Reding cabinet) on the Commission policies in relation to Mobile Phones

•Discussion with Mr. Pat Curtin, Valentia Marine Ltd

•Discussion on the Report of the Expert Group on Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields with Department

The Joint Committee scrutinised the following EU legislative proposals:

•COM (2006) 382: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on roaming on public mobile networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.

•COM (2006) 594: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC concerning the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services

7.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 5 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Bill 2006 (Committee stage)

•Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006 (Committee stage)

•Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006 (Seanad) (Committee stage)

•Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 (Committee stage) 2007

•Annual Outputs Statement and Revised Estimates for Public Services — Vote 30 (Communication, Marine and Natural Resources)

8. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

•Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources

•Interdepartmental Advisory Committee (set up to examine Government policy in relation to possible health effects from non-ionising radiation)

•Valentia Marine Ltd

•Mr. Bartho Pronk (member of Commissioner Reding cabinet)

•Mr. Ronan Coy, Private Individual

•Mr. Kenneth Haggman, Private Individual

•Mr. Conor Hayes, RTÉ

•Mr. Peter Feeney, RTÉ

•Mr. Paul Mulligan, RTÉ

•Mr. Eamonn Kennedy, RTÉ

•Mr. Tom Quinn, RTÉ

•Mr. Conor Sweeney, RTÉ

•Ms. Mary Curtin, Secretary, RTÉ TUG

•Mr. Seamus Dooley, NUJ

•Mr Sean Treacy, Backstage traffic music magazine

•Mr. Ciaran Murray, CRAOL

•Mr. Eamon de Valera, Private Individual

•Mr. Michael McGrath, Chairperson, BCC

•Mr. William Prasifka, Chairperson Competition Authority

•Mr. Dusty Rhodes, Association of Independent Radio Producers of Ireland

•Ms. Mary Owens, Association of Independent Radio Producers of Ireland

•Mr. Pat McKenna, President IHHA

•Mr. Conor Maguire, Chairperson BCI

•Mr. Michael O’Keeffe, Chief Executive BCI

•Ms. Niamh Ní Bhróinn, BCI

•Mr. David Tighe, Chairman Independent Broadcasters of Ireland

•Mr. David Mc Munn, TV3

•Mr. Julian de Spáinn Conradh na Gaeilge

•Mr. Pádraig Ó’Ceithearnaigh Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge

•Mr. Aodán MacPóilin Ultach Trust

•Mr. James Hickey Screen Producers of Ireland

•Mr. David McLaughlin, Screen Producers Ireland

•Mr. Pól Ó’Gallchóir, TG4

•Mr. Pádhraic Ó’Ciardha, TG4

•Mr. Alan Esslemont, TG4

•Ms. Eithne Fitzgerald, National Disability Authority

•Mr. Pat Donnelly, Channel 6

•Mr. Paul M. Kinsella, Private Individual

9. Reports

9.1 Joint Committee Reports

During the year under report, the Joint Committee published and/or laid be before the Houses Of The Oireachtas the following reports:

•Report on the Considerations, recommendations and conclusions on the Joint Committee’s consultation on the draft General Scheme of the Broadcasting Bill

•Report on Review of Progress in broadband rollout.

•EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2005) 505: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Framework for Community Action in the field of Marine Environmental Policy

•EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2006) 382: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on roaming on public mobile networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services

•EU Scrutiny Report on COM (2006) 594: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC concerning the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services

9.2 Work in Progress

There is no work in progress

10. Travel

The Joint Committee undertook the following travel in accordance with its Orders of Reference in connection with its work programme.

11. Functions and Powers

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

____________________

Noel O’Flynn, T.D.

Chairman

27^th April 2007