JOINT COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY SECURITY debate -
Wednesday, 19 Mar 2008

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Before inviting in the delegations, we will deal with a number of housekeeping matters. The minutes of the meeting of 5 March have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

We have advertised for the recruitment of consultants to this committee, one on the energy side and one on the climate change side. The clerk to the committee has published the details on requests for tenders on the Oireachtas website and they have also been issued to a number of bodies. This was done on 10 March with a response deadline of 18 April to comply with rules and regulations. Shortly, we should be in a position to give the committee some information on those seeking to take up these positions.

There are two other matters. Does 2 p.m. suit everybody or should we make it 2.30 p.m.?

Deputy Phil Hogan

I would say 2.30 p.m.

Chairman

Is that the general view?

Senator Paudie Coffey

The Seanad normally sits at 2.30 p.m. on the first day of the week it sits. The committee needs a Senator for a quorum and it is important to have a Senator here.

Chairman

Will we make it 2.15 p.m.?

Senator Paudie Coffey

All right, we will compromise.

Chairman

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have sad news for the members. In my absence I understand the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, having consulted the Oireachtas Commission, has secured use of this room for the future in view of the fact that works will commence on the Seanad Chamber. We will have to find a new location. I do not know how it will affect us. This will not occur until the summer months but we will have to deal with that matter in due course.

On correspondence, there is a letter from the clerk to the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny about decisions taken at that committee's meeting on 26 February last a copy of which has been circulated. Is it agreed that we note this correspondence? Agreed.

The next item is an e-mail dated 10 March from Mr. John Keohane of Verde Autos, Little Island, Cork about electric vehicles marketed by his company. He has made an offer to discuss the potential of such vehicles for reducing Ireland's CO2 emissions. Is it agreed that we note this correspondence? Agreed.

The next item is an invitation to the OECD forum 2008 conference to be held in Paris on 3 and 4 June next. The theme of the conference is Climate Change, Growth, Stability: The Price of Reform and the Cost of Inaction. Enclosed with the invitation is a special-edition policy brief on OECD climate change work, which has also been circulated. Is it agreed that we note this correspondence?

Deputy Ciarán Cuffe

I suggest that we leave it open for members' possible attendance.

Deputy Phil Hogan

Has the committee any money left?

Chairman

The conference will be on 3 and 4 June. We will return to it at a future date.

Deputy Ciarán Cuffe

Thank you, Chairman.

Chairman

The next item is an invitation dated 7 March, received by the committee on 18 March, from the European parliamentarians on habitat about the European forum on habitat to be held in Bucharest on 23 and 24 April. Is it agreed that we note this correspondence? Agreed. That concludes the items of correspondence.

There are two delegations today, namely, the climate change communications campaign organised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Trócaire. I suggest we spend the first three quarters of an hour to an hour on the first matter and then three quarters of an hour on Trócaire for presentations and then questions and answers. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will suspend for five minutes after the first delegation to allow people to change seats.

Deputy Phil Hogan

There is no need to ask questions if we do not have to.

Chairman

That is true. It is a matter for each member.

Deputy Phil Hogan

It would speed it up.