We will now discuss the scrutiny of EU legislation. The Clerk has circulated to members a document on the scrutiny of EU legislation. The committee must deal with two matters: first, matters the sub-committee on EU legislation referred to this joint committee with the recommendation that no further scrutiny is required; and, second, matters the sub-committee on EU legislation referred to this joint committee with the recommendation that future scrutiny may be required.
The committee must make a formal decision to accept the recommendation of the sub-committee that no further consideration is required. In this regard, Deputy Eoin Ryan asked that EU document COM (2002) 404, a proposal for a regulation concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interaction in the Community, should be given further scrutiny by the joint committee. The proposed regulation relates to two existing regulations, one concerning forest fires and the other concerning atmospheric issues. The proposed new regulation will extend the scope of the existing regulations to cover the new element of biodiversity.
In the briefing supplied by the Department, members are advised that while the new regulation will impose further reporting and monitoring obligations on it, the Government is in favour of the regulations. In this regard, the recommendation of the EU scrutiny sub-committee is that no further scrutiny is required. Accordingly, it is for the committee to examine this matter and it is required to make a formal decision to conduct further scrutiny. If the committee decides to act on Deputy Ryan's request, it will be necessary for the Department and/or the Minister to brief the committee on the matter. I will be asking if the committee agrees to Deputy Ryan's request to consider further document COM (2002) 404.