As chairman of the Select Committee on Social Affairs, I wish to report to the House on the work to date of that committee.
The committee held its first meeting on 13 May 1993 when it elected me as chairman. Since then we have considered the following Estimates: Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Votes 42, 43 and 44, 21 May; Department of Education, Votes 26 to 29, 11 June; Department of Health, Vote 41, 17 June; and, on 22 June, Department of Social Welfare, Vote 40. Prior to the consideration of the Estimates meetings took place between the convenors, departmental officials and me, as chairman, to discuss and acquaint ourselves with the procedures.
On 15 July the committee met to consider the Matrimonial Home Bill, 1993. However, it has not yet completed Committee Stage. Again, prior to the consideration of Committee Stage, as provided for under paragraph 8 of the terms of reference of the committee, a briefing session took place between the members of the committee and officials of the Department of Equality and Law Reform.
It will be noted that the committee has considered the Estimates for the three biggest spending Departments; the Departments of Social Welfare, Health and Education. The Estimates for these three Departments alone amount to £5.5 billion which represents approximately 63 per cent of total supply services expenditure. The meetings of the committee were attended by the appropriate Minister in all cases.
Initially, no time constraints were laid down by the Dáil for the consideration of Estimates. An order of the Dáil was passed on 15 June 1993 instructing the committee to meet on a certain date to consider and conclude all Estimates relevant to a particular Department. However, as members of the committee felt that more time might be required, especially when discussing Estimates for a big spending Department, this was subsequently amended to allow, with the agreement of the Minister and the committee, more time to be allocated for consideration of a particular Estimate.
With the co-operation of members and the Ministers concerned, the committee completed consideration of the Estimates within the time laid down by the Dáil. Most, if not all Deputies would agree that the consideration of the Estimates by the committee has been successful and has enabled members of the committee and, indeed, the House to elicit information from Ministers and to make valuable contributions in a less formal atmosphere than in a committee of the whole Dáil. The report of the committee on the Estimates was laid before the Dáil on 26 June.
As I have stated, the committee met last Thursday consider the Matrimonial Home Bill and has arranged to meet again on Wednesday and Thursday, 8 and 9 September to consider it further. It is hoped to complete Committee Stage by mid September. It is anticipated that in addition to the two days already set aside in September that possibly two further days will have to be set aside to complete Committee Stage.
The success of a committee depends to a large extent on the resources available to it. A clerk has been appointed to the committee but no specific back-up staff have been provided. It is essential that these be provided, including clerical staff, as soon as possible. We expect the workload of the committee to increase and the terms of reference to expand. Therefore, the secondment or appointment of senior staff to the committee will be required.
Under its terms of reference the committee has the power to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it or any of its subcommittees in their consideration of matters comprehended by its terms of reference. However, to date no budget has been allocated to the committee. The liaison committee which allocates funds to the committee has not yet met. As part of its brief members of this committee will undoubtedly have to attend relevant meetings or conferences from time to time and it would be appropriate to make a specific allocation from the appropriate Vote for this purpose.
The committee feels that its terms of reference are somewhat restrictive and limit the committee in initiating its own agenda. As well as considering Estimates, the Committee Stage of Bills and reports referred to it by Dáil Éireann in the areas of social welfare, health, education, labour law, the Gaeltacht and equality the committee is empowered to consider the impact on equality of policy and legislation relevant to these areas. This wording appears to allow only a discussion on equality issues under the headings of policy and existing legislation. The committees seeks clarification. For example, in the area of health the committee would like to be able to consider the implementation of childcare legislation.
Members of the committee have suggested that paragraph 7 of the terms of reference which allows the committee to invite submissions in writing should be amended to allow oral submissions to be made to the committee. Other chairmen have made the point today that the question of privilege for witnesses who appear before the committee to give oral evidence would arise. In this regard the committee asked me to write to the Taoiseach requesting legislation to be introduced without delay to deal with this matter but the Taoiseach was unable to give a precise date for the introduction of legislation.
The committee would like to be in a position to agree to a work programme to facilitate members who would like to know in advance, so far as possible, what legislation is likely to be referred to the committee for consideration. There are many reports which the committee would also like to consider.
I should mention that a problem has arisen in taking divisions. There is a need to put a mechanism in place to ensure that members not in the meeting room or within the precincts of the House are alerted in good time when a division is called. This problem is encountered at all committees. I hope it will be considered by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
In conclusion, I thank the members of the committee for their co-operation and active participation in the work of the committee; the Ministers and Ministers of State who have attended the meetings of the committee with their officials; the officials of this House who help the committee, including the clerk and the convenors, Deputy Mary Flaherty, more recently Deputy Paul Bradford and Deputy Bell for their help and co-operation.