Seanad Éireann has passed the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill, 1976, without amendment.
I have received a message from the Seanad stating that it has made an Order appointing a Select Committee to be joined with the Select Committee appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on State-sponsored bodies. The text of the message will be set out in the Official Report and in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Dáil.
Seanad Éireann has made the following Order:-
(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 4 members (none of whom shall be a member of the Government or a Parliamentary Secretary) be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee appointed by Dáil Éireann to form a Joint Committee to examine the Reports and Accounts and overall operational results of State-sponsored bodies engaged in trading or commercial activities referred to in Schedule A hereto and the trading and/or commercial aspects of the Reports and Accounts and overall operational results of the State-sponsored body referred to in Schedule B hereto and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas and make recommendations where appropriate.
(2) That, after consultation with the Joint Committee, the Minister for the Public Service with the agreement of the Minister for Finance may include from time to time the names of further State-sponsored bodies engaged in trading or commercial activities in the Schedules and, with the consent of the Joint Committee and the Minister for Finance, may delete from the Schedules the names of any bodies which he considers no longer to be State-sponsored bodies engaged in trading or commercial activities.
(3) That, if so requested by a State-sponsored body, the Joint Committee shall refrain from publishing confidential information regarding the body's activities and plans.
(4) That the Joint Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records and, subject to the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it for the purpose of particular inquiries.
(5) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make under this Order shall on adoption by the Joint Committee be laid before both Houses forthwith whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with, as it thinks fit, any evidence and other such related documents given to it.
(6) That 4 members of the Joint Committee shall form a quorum of whom at least 1 shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and at least 1 shall be a member of Seanad Éireann.
Schedule A—Aer Lingus, Teoranta; Aerlínte Éireann, Teoranta; Aer Rianta, Teoranta; The Agricultural Credit Corporation, Limited; Arramara Teoranta; Bord na Móna; British & Irish Steam Packet Company Limited; Ceimicí, Teoranta; Cómhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta; Córas Iompair Éireann; Dairy Disposal Company, Limited; Electricity Supply Board; Fóir Teoranta; Industrial Credit Company, Limited; The Irish Gas Board; Irish Life Assurance Company Limited; The Irish National Stud Company, Limited; Irish Shipping Limited; Irish Steel Holdings Limited; Min Fhéir (1959) Teoranta; National Building Agency Limited; Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta; Óstlanna Iompair Éireann Teoranta; Pigs and Bacon Commission; Radio Telefís Éireann; Voluntary Health Insurance Board.
Schedule B—Gaeltarra Éireann.
The Dáil adjourned at 10.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 9th December, 1976.