Members have been circulated with the EU proposals regarding the protection of animals during transport. This matter has been raised at a meeting with the EU Commissioner and it is necessary for us to scrutinise the proposal in detail. I suggest we do this at our next meeting scheduled for 8 October. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Business of Joint Committee.
It is a very contentious issue.
The Clerk has been in contact with the relevant officials at the Department of Agriculture and Food and it is hoped to invite officials in to discuss the disposal of meat and bonemeal and the question of incineration.
Following our successful meeting with Commissioner Byrne I suggest we invite Dr. Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, to a meeting of the joint committee during the course of the Irish Presidency. Do members have any comments to make on that proposal?
It is a good idea.
We met representatives from Teagasc on three occasions. The last meeting took place two weeks ago but unfortunately I was out of the country at the time. They made two presentations regarding the closure of offices. It has come to my knowledge in the last couple of days that they are closing another office. That information never appeared in any of the presentations. The area in question is Inishowen which has two Teagasc offices. Inishowen is approximately the same size as County Louth with an approximate population to that of County Leitrim. The closure of one office is a serious blow to one of the most exposed rural areas in the country. Would it be possible to invite Teagasc to meet with us again?
We will check the previous transcripts to see if that closure was mentioned. We could write to the chairman of Teagasc raising this matter with him and outlining the importance of the office to the area. Deputy Blaney could also raise the matter by way of parliamentary question next week.
I will probably do so any way.
A parliamentary question in that regard would probably be disallowed in that the Minister might say he does not have responsibility in that area. I support Deputy Blaney. The joint committee should write to Teagasc on that matter.
We will follow up that on your behalf.
I will find out more information.
You should direct any information to the Clerk.
The joint committee adjourned at 5.20 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 October 2003.