Committee schedule

Minutes of the meeting of 14 June 2022

Discussion on the need for revised criteria for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) qualification

• Josepha Madigan, Minister of State at the Department of Education

Discussion on the need for revised criteria for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) qualification

• Representatives from Forsá
• Representative Special Needs Assistants (SNA)s

Engagement with stakeholders on the Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020

• Officials from Dept. of Justice
• Mr Bill Browder, The Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign
• Representatives from Criminal Assets Bureau

Detailed scrutiny of the Ban on Sex for Rent Bill 2022

• Representatives from Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI)
• Representatives from Threshold
• Officials from Dept. of Justice
• Ms Ann Murphy, Irish Examiner

Universal Design

• Representatives from Age Action Ireland
• Representatives from Irish Wheelchair Association
• Representatives from National Disability Authority
• Representatives from Disability Federation of Ireland

Engagement Representatives from Dóchas to discuss their pre budget submission and the Global Food Crisis with a particular focus on the Horn of Africa and West Africa

• Jane Ann McKenna, CEO, Dóchas
• Assalama Sidi, Oxfam Regional Director for West Africa
• Colm Byrne, Humanitarian Manager, Oxfam Ireland
• Paul O’Brien, CEO, Plan International Ireland
• Siobhan Walsh, CEO, GOAL

Engagement on the issue of European Work Councils and related Irish legislation.

• Representatives from The Brussels European Employee Relations Group
• Representatives from Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU)

Improving the lives of those affected by rare diseases and their families (Resumed)

• Engagement with Belgian former Minister
• Representatives from HSE

Committee Stage consideration of the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021

• Eamon Ryan, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications; and Transport

Minutes of the meeting of 15 June 2022 (noting)

Engagement on Public Service Performance Report

• Officials from Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform, Ms Caroline O'Loughlin

‘Ag Spreagadh Fhoilsitheoireacht agus Léitheoireacht na Gaeilge’

• Réaltán Ní Leannáin Uasal, Scríbhneoir
• Mícheál Ó Laoghaire Uasal, Scríbhneoir

Fixed Milk Price Contracts (resumed)

• Representatives from Ornua

Ash Dieback and its impact on the Private Forestry Sector

• Representatives from Limerick Tipperary Woodland Owners Ltd. (LTWO)

Discussion on the review of Tax Expenditures: (R&D, Knowledge Box and Film Credit)

• Officials from Dept. of Finance
• Representatives from Office of the Revenue Commissioners
• Officials from Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Recommendations of the report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality on Care and Social Protection (4-19) (resumed)

• Representatives from Disability Federation of Ireland
• Representatives from Disabled Women Ireland
• Representatives from Independent Living Movement Ireland

C&AG 2020 report Chapter 3: Central government funding of local authorities.

• Officials from Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Business Of The Committee

Any other business

Accessing Justice

• Representatives from Irish Criminal/Civil Justice Disability Network , Fiona Murphy, Director & Jerry Carroll, Chairman
• Representatives from Irish Penal Reform Trust, Saoirse Brady, Executive Director & Sarahjane McCreery, Senior Policy & Research Officer
• Representatives from Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, CEO & Dr Susan Finnerty, Inspector of Mental Health Services

Meeting on Remediation of Dwellings damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 Session 1: 1.00 - 3.00 p.m.

• Representatives from Mica Action Group Donegal
• Representatives from Clare Pyrite Action Group
• Representatives from Mayo Pyrite Action Group

Meeting on Remediation of Dwellings damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 Session 2: 3.30 - 5.30 p.m.

• Representatives from Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI)
• Representatives from Engineers Ireland
• Paul Forde, Chair, Expert Working Group

Meeting on Remediation of Dwellings damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022 Session 3: 6.00 - 8.00 p.m.

• Officials from Dept. of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Representatives from The Housing Agency

Approval of Minutes of previous meetings

Public Petition Number P00008/22 “Ban herbicides in public areas” from Mr James Walsh (resumed)

• Representatives from Wicklow County Council, Ms Mary Cahill, Climate Action Officer and Mr James Callery, Environmental Awareness Officer

Consideration of Public Petitions

Any other business

Discussion on resourcing and the provision of services at the Linn Dara CAMHs unit.

• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE)

Minutes of the meeting of 21 June 2022

Discussion on Young Social Innovators (YSI)

• YSI Organisers
• Staff and Students of YSI Project, Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Co Wicklow

Discussion on Sector Emission Ceilings

• Officials from Dept. of Transport
• Officials from Dept. of Environment, Climate and Communications
• Officials from Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Approval of Minutes of previous meetings

Autism Policy and Education

• Representatives from National Council for Special Education (NCSE), Mr John Kearney, Chief Executive Officer; Ms Paula Prendeville, Policy & Practice, Principal Officer; and Mary McGrath, Operations, Principal Officer

Any other business

Committee Stage consideration of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2020

Report Launch: "The elimination of any and all abuse directed toward referees, officials, and players in sport".

Inflationary costs in the Construction Industry

• Asst. Prof. Orla Hegarty, University College Dublin
• Representatives from Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH)

Committee Stage consideration of the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021

• Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice

Engagement with the Ukrainian Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary Cooperation to discuss the situation in Ukraine

• Oleksandr Merezhko, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Maryna Bardina, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Solomiya Bobrovska, Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Mariia Ionova, Head of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Andriy Sharaskin, Head of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Sviatoslav Yurash, Head of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Olena Khomenko, Head of the Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Bohdan Yaremenko, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Iryna Gerashchenko,Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation
• Olga Rudenko, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Inter-parliamentary cooperation

Discussion on the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022 - 2042

• Representatives from National Transport Authority (NTA) , Anne Graham, CEO
• Representatives from National Transport Authority (NTA), Hugh Creegan, Deputy CEO

Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill 2022.

• Officials from Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Discussion on issues relating to vaginal mesh implants

• Representatives from Mesh Ireland
• Representatives from Mesh Survivors Ireland
• Representatives from Health Service Executive (HSE)

Engagement with the Embassy of the Czech Republic on their priorities for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

• Mr. Filip Vurm, Deputy Chief of Mission

Minutes of the meeting of 15th June 2022

Social outcome contracts in Irish sport

• Representatives from Rethink Ireland
• Representatives from The Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
• Representatives from Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
• Representatives from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Working conditions and skills shortages in Ireland’s tourism and hospitality sector.

• Dr Deirdre Curran, Lecturer, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG)
• Representatives from Unite the Union
• Representatives from Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
• Representatives from Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU)

Double Taxation Agreements with the Isle of Man and Guernsey

• Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance

Update on the implementation of the National Broadband Plan

• Representatives from National Broadband Ireland (NBI), Peter Hendrick, CEO

Ainmniúcháin an Chomhchoiste i gcomhair ball de Bhord TG4.

‘Ag Spreagadh Fhoilsitheoireacht agus Léitheoireacht na Gaeilge’

• Anna Heussaff Uasal, Scríbhneoir.
• Cathal Portéir Uasal, Scríbhneoir.
• Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin Uasal, Scríbhneoir agus Úinéir Futa Fata.
• Liam Carson Uasal, Stiúrthóir ar an bhféile litríochta Gaeilge, Imram.

Aon Ghnó Eile.

Pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022

• Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality regarding Gender Equality Principle in Law and Policy (recommendations 42-45)

• Officials from Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform
• Representatives from The Central Statistics Office

Business Of The Committee

Any other business

Appropriation Account 2020 Vote 27 (International Co-operation) . Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) .

• Officials from Dept. of Foreign Affairs
• Officials from Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform

Specific areas of interest include expenditure related to: 1) the Passport Office 2) Consular activity 3) Leasing and ownership of buildings

Motion on the reports by the Minister for Defence, regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2020 and 2021 respectively

• Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Defence

Motion on Ireland’s participation in four Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Projects.

• Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Defence

Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (resumed)

• Mr Jonathan Powell

Update in relation to the Government Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030

• Representatives from Road Safety Authority (RSA) , Sam Waide, CEO
• Representatives from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) , Denise Barry
• Representatives from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) , Brian Farrell
• Representatives from Road Safety Authority (RSA) , Velma Burns
• Representatives from Medical Bureau of Road Safety , Professor Denis Cusack, Forensic and Legal Medicine
• Representatives from An Garda Siochana