Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2007 > Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Ealaíon, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2007

1 Eanáir 2007 — 21 Márta 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

1 January 2007 — 21 March 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Ghnóthaí Ealaíon, Spóirt, Turasóireachta, Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2007

1 Eanáir 2007 — 21 Márta 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

1 January 2007 — 21 March 2007

Annual Report 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 Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. .

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 (and amended on 23 October 2002), to form the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Among the principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider —

•public affairs administered by the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

•matters of policy for which the Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism, and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are responsible

•legislative and expenditure proposals of both Departments

•scrutiny of EU legislative proposals

•certain matters relating to bodies under the aegis of each 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 Cecilia Keaveney was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 13 November 2002. Deputy Jim Glennon was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on 18 December 2002. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee.

Deputies Peter Kelly and Brian O’Shea 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 Membership of the Joint Committee is 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.

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 Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 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 4 occasions in the year under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 05 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 2 occasions in the year under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 2 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 4 occasions the Joint Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

•Annual Report 2006.

•Work Programme 2007.

•Presentation by Blue Drum Organisation, on their activities.

•Presentation by the Irish Rural Link organisation on Ireland’s Rural Development Strategy Plan 2007-2013.

•Presentation by the Chairman and Director of the Arts Council on their current activities and future plans.

•Consideration of Draft Rapporteur Reports.

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the 2 occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it dealt with the following matters:

Revised Estimates: Votes 24 and 27 (Charitable Donations and Bequests and the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs).

Revised Estimates: Votes 33 and 35 (National Gallery and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism).

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

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

•Blue Drum Organisation.

•Irish Rural Link.

•The Arts Council

8. 8.1 Joint Committee Reports.

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

•Annual Report 2006 and Work Programme 2007.

•Twelfth Report, Drug Abuse in Ireland — A Waterford Perspective.

•Thirteenth Report, The relationship between alcohol misuse and the drinks industry sponsorship of sporting activities.

•Annual Report 1 January 2007 — 21 March 2007.

9. Travel.

The Joint Committee did not undertake any travel.

10. Functions and Powers

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

____________________

Cecilia Keaveney, T.D.

Chairman

20 April, 2007.