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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1983

Vol. 344 No. 5

Messages from Seanad.

Messages have been received from Seanad Éireann stating that it has made Orders appointing Select Committees of that House to be joined by Select Committees appointed by the Dáil to form the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities, the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies, the Joint Services Committee and the Joint Committee on Co-operation with Developing Countries. The full text of the messages will be set out in the Official Report and in the Journal of the Proceedings of the House.

Following are the messages from the Seanad:

Seanad Éireann has made the following Order:

(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 7 members of Seanad Éireann (none of whom shall be a representative in the Assembly of the European Communities) be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities

(a) to examine

(i) such programmes and guidelines prepared by the Commission of the European Communities as a basis for possible legislative action and such drafts of regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions of the Council of Ministers proposed by the Commission,

(ii) such acts of the institutions of those Communities,

(iii) such regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), and

(iv) such other instruments made under statute and necessitated by the obligations of membership of those Communities

as the Joint Committee may select and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas; and

(b) to examine the question of dual membership of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann and the European Assembly and to consider the relations between the Irish representatives in the European Assembly and Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas;

(2) That in the absence from a particular meeting of the Joint Committee of a member who is a member of Seanad Éireann, another member of Seanad Éireann may, with the authority of the absent member, take part in the proceedings and vote in his stead, and that members of Seanad Éireann, not being members of the Joint Committee, may attend meetings and take part in the proceedings without having a right to vote;

(3) That members of Seanad Éireann who are representatives in the Assembly of the European Communities be notified of meetings and be allowed to attend and take part in proceedings without having a right to vote;

(4) That the Joint Committee shall, subject to the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, have power to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it for the purpose of particular inquiries;

(5) That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman who shall have only one vote;

(6) That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative;

(7) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall, on adoption by the Joint Committee, be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith, whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit; and

(8) That five members of the Joint Committee shall form a quorum of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and at least one shall be a member of Seanad Éireann.

Seanad Éireann has made the following Order:

1. That a Select Committee consisting of 4 members of Seanad Éireann (none of whom shall be a member of the Government or a Minister of State) be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form a Joint Committee (which shall be called the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies) to examine the Reports and Accounts and overall operational results of State-sponsored Bodies engaged in trading or commercial activities referred to in the Schedule hereto and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas and to 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 in the Schedule and, with the consent of the Joint Committee and the Minister for Finance, may delete from the Schedule the names of any bodies.

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 enquiries.

5. That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

6. That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

7. That the Joint Committee shall have power to print and publish from time to time minutes of evidence taken before it together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

8. That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall on adoption by the Joint Committee be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

9. 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

Aer Lingus, Teoranta

Aerlínte Éireann, Teoranta

Aer Rianta, Teoranta

The Agricultural Credit Corporation Limited

Arramara Teoranta

Bord na Móna

British and Irish Steam Packet Company Limited

Ceimicí Teoranta

Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta

Córas Iompair Éireann

Electricity Supply Board

Fóir Teoranta

Industrial Credit Company Limited

The Irish Gas Board

Irish Life Assurance Company Limited

Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited

The Irish National Stud Company Limited

Irish Shipping Limited

Irish Steel Limited

National Building Agency Limited

Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta

Óstlanna Iompair Éireann Teoranta

Radio Telefís Éireann

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Voluntary Health Insurance Board.

Seanad Éireann has made the following Order:

(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 9 members of Seanad Éireann be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form a Joint Committee (to be called the Joint Services Committee)

(i) to direct and control the Oireachtas Restaurant;

(ii) to assist and advise the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach in the direction and control of the Oireachtas Library;

(iii) to initiate and operate an information service in respect of the work of the Houses of the Oireachtas; and

(iv) to regulate and supervise the operation of the research service for Members and to recommend to the Ceann Comhairle and the Cathaoirleach any improvements in the operation of the service which may appear to it to be desirable from time to time.

(2) That the Joint Committee have power to appoint sub-committees and to delegate any matter comprehended by paragraph (1) of this Order to a sub-committee.

(3) That the Joint Committee and each sub-committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(4) That all questions in the Joint Committee and in each sub-committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

(5) That the quorum of the Joint Committee be five of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one shall be a member of Seanad Éireann and that the quorum of each sub-committee shall be three at least one of whom shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one a member of Seanad Éireann.

Seanad Éireann has made the following Order:

(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 7 members of Seanad Éireann (none of whom shall be a member of the Government or a Minister of State) be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Cooperation with Developing Countries to examine:

such aspects of

(a) Ireland's relations with developing countries in the field of development co-operation, and

(b) the Government's Official Development Assistance to developing countries,

as the Joint Committee may select and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas, at least one report to be made annually on any aspect of its work as the Joint Committee may choose.

(2) That in the absence from a particular meeting of the Joint Committee of a member who is a member of Seanad Éireann, another member of Seanad Éireann may, with the authority of the absent member, take part in the proceedings and vote in his stead.

(3) That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(4) That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

(5) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall on adoption by the Joint Committee be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

(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.

Seanad Éireann has passed the following Resolution:

(1) That Seanad Éireann concurs with Dáil Éireann in its Resolution communicated to Seanad Éireann on 21 June, 1983, that it is expedient that a Joint Committee (which shall be called the Joint Committee on Legislation) consisting of 18 members of Dáil Éireann and 7 members of Seanad Éireann be appointed—

(a) to invite submissions in writing, or orally if considered necessary by the Committee, from interested persons or bodies on bills or other proposals for legislation (other than measures arising out of or relating to the Budget) referred to it by either House on Motion made by or with the consent of a Member of the Government and to provide a record of same for the information of each House;

(b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Standing Orders relative to public business, to discharge the functions devolving by virtue of those Standing Orders on the Standing Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills;

(c) to examine the reports of the Law Reform Commission and to report its opinion and recommendations thereon to each House;

(d) to keep the law under review and to formulate proposals for law reform and to report thereon to each House;

(e) to consider any Bill referred to it by either House with the concurrence of the other; and

(f) to examine and report to each House on any statutory instrument laid or laid in draft before either House, other than regulations made under the European Communities Act, 1972, and to recommend, where it considers that such action is warranted, whether the instrument should be annulled or amended.

(2) That the Joint Committee have power to appoint sub-committees and to refer to such sub-committees any matters comprehended by paragraph (1) of this Resolution.

(3) That the Joint Committee or any of its sub-committees shall, unless they decide otherwise, hold their meetings in public under the conditions specified in Standing Order 76.

(4) That the Joint Committee have the power, 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 or any of its sub-committees in its consideration of any matter comprehended by paragraph (1) (c) or (1) (d).

(5) That the Joint Committee, or a sub-committee to which a statutory instrument is referred, have power to require any Government Department or other instrument-making authority concerned to submit a Memorandum explaining any Statutory Instrument which may be under consideration or to depute a representative to appear before it as a witness for the purpose of explaining any such statutory instrument.

(6) That the Joint Committee have power to report to each House from time to time any Memoranda submitted or other evidence given to it or to the relevant sub-committee in explanation of a statutory instrument.

(7) That any Member of either House may attend and be heard in the proceedings of the Joint Committee or a sub-committee in relation to a matter comprehended by paragraph (1) (a) subject to the prior consent of the Joint Committee.

(8) Where a Bill is under consideration in accordance with paragraph (1) (e) of this Resolution a Member of the Government in charge of the Bill or a Minister of State nominated by him shall for that purpose be an ex-officio member of the Joint Committee or any relevant sub-committee and members of either House, not being members of the Joint Committee or relevant sub-committee, may attend and be heard at meetings held for the purpose of such consideration without having a right to vote.

(9) That the Joint Committee and any sub-committee appointed, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(10) Subject to paragraph (8), all questions in the Joint Committee and in each sub-committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

(11) Subject to paragraph (6), that every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make under this Resolution shall on adoption be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith whereupon the Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

(12) That the quorum of the Joint Committee shall be seven of whom at least three shall be Members of Dáil Éireann and one shall be a Member of Seanad Éireann and that the quorum of each sub-committee shall be three of whom at least one shall be a Member of Dáil Éireann and at least one a Member of Seanad Éireann.

Seanad Éireann has passed the following Resolution:

(1) That Seanad Éireann concurs with Dáil Éireann in its Resolution communicated to Seanad Éireann on 21 June, 1983, that it is expedient that a Joint Committee (to be called the Joint Committee on Small Businesses) consisting of 9 members of Dáil Éireann and 7 members of Seanad Éireann, be appointed to examine and report to each House, with its recommendations, on the following matters:

(i) a common definition of small businesses having regard to the criteria applied by State agencies, the Small Firms Association of the CII and definitions used in other EEC countries.

(ii) the development of the small business sector of the economy;

(iii) the means of facilitating the financing of small businesses with particular reference to existing loan schemes;

(iv) the provision of finance for innovation, research and development for small businesses with particular reference to EEC initiatives, including the setting up of an industrial innovation and development fund;

(v) existing export financing arrangements to see if they are adequately tailored to the needs of small businesses;

(vi) the small industry programmes of the Industrial Development Authority and the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited;

(vii) ensuring greater linkage between new foreign industry and small domestic businesses;

(viii) the use of State purchasing decisions as an encouragement to the development of small businesses;

(ix) improving the marketing capability of small businesses;

(x) existing management training techniques insofar as small business are concerned and, in particular, the retraining of management;

(xi) the working of the Committee of Enquiry to be established by the Minister for Finance, which is to recommend a simplified tax regime for family businesses.

(2) That the Joint Committee have power to appoint sub-committees and to refer any matter comprehended by paragraph (1) of this resolution to a sub-committee.

(3) That the Joint Committee and each sub-committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

(4) That all questions in the Joint Committee and in each sub-committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the questions shall be decided in the negative.

(5) That the quorum of the Joint Committee shall be four of whom at least one shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one shall be a member of Seanad Éireann and that the quorum of each sub-committee shall be three at least one of whom shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and one a member of Seanad Éireann.

(6) That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make under this Resolution shall on adoption by the Joint Committee be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

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