I would remind members about the tour and presentation by Media Labs in Thomas Street.
Business of Joint Committee.
If this unfortunate development happens in the Middle East, it might be appropriate for some of the officials to return to attend the committee at that stage. If we get into this situation in three or four weeks, it will probably be something that the public, our constituents, will expect to see us doing. At some stage, if this development——
In relation to what?
In relation to a war in Iraq.
Yes.
Let us hope is does not happen.
Let us wait and see.
This is under any other business and has nothing to do with oil or war. At our very first meeting I made a point and we invited a lot of the fishing groups. There is a new group called the inshore fishermen who are raising many relevant issues. I was wondering if at some time they could be allowed to attend the committee, although I realise that our work schedule is overcrowded. They formed an association so sometime in the future, maybe in the next couple of months, we could hear from them. Their issues have nothing to do with the Irish Box.
We will consider that when we are reviewing our work programme and it is ready to be published. It can be slotted in then.
Perhaps the committee could take a note of it, so we could allow them to attend, if possible. There are only two or three who would travel here.
We have earmarked the autumn session for marine and fisheries matters. Members will find that we have quite a lot of business in the communications session up to the Easter recess. We agreed to take natural resources matters up to the summer recess. We will certainly be extremely busy until then. Marine matters will be dealt with after the summer recess in October or whenever we agree to meet. As the Deputy knows, any member can raise an urgent matter and the committee will decide whether or not it is urgent enough to bring that particular matter to the attention of the committee. That process is always there, as members are aware.
I wish to support Deputy O'Donovan in that regard. There was an alarming report in the newspaper today about cutbacks in staffing in the south-western fisheries area. So, it might be important that we get to hear exactly what the situation is on the ground.
During the week we all received by e-mail an interesting report by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce about broadband. I know that you, Chairman, and a colleague will represent us in America concerning that matter. It looks as if Mr. Horn and his committee have produced an interesting document for the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on e-Dublin and e-Ireland. It might be opportune if we could discuss that at some stage. They really seem to have done their homework.
Absolutely. Before we finish, may I say that the matter Deputy O'Donovan has raised is a very pressing one and the Deputy can be sure that the committee will attend to it in the very near future. We are under time constraints for the next month, however, when we are proposing to deal with the whole area of broadband. I am concerned by the report of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and by the report by the prestigious Foreign Affairs magazine which rated Ireland No. 1 in terms of economic achievement, but rated us No. 17 in terms of technology roll-out. The ICT sub-committee is embarking on a fact-finding mission to the United States tomorrow. The other interested bodies in the whole area of the roll-out of broadband will do likewise in February.
Our next meeting takes place on 29 January when representatives of An Post have agreed to come and meet us with the telecoms regulator, Ms Etain Doyle. Several members have expressed concern about a number of issues relating to An Post, to which we will devote the entire meeting on 29 January.
It should be recorded that the joint committee is deeply unhappy with the response of An Post to the Chairman and other members of the committee in relation to its performance at Christmas and the unilateral proposal to drop door-to-door deliveries which would have a disastrous impact on rural areas. That it did so without the slightest consultation with the committee is deplorable. In individual representations Mr. Hynes appears to be an efficient and consultative chief executive. Given that the Chairman presented a opportunity to thrash out the matter last week, it is deplorable that a major semi-State company did not take it. It is a bad state of affairs. We will have to convey this to those responsible when the chief executive returns.
I set out the fact that representatives of An Post were unable to attend yesterday in response to our invitation because of difficulties within the organisation. I pointed out to the joint committee that we were quite satisfied with their answer. I hope on 29 January members will have an opportunity to speak, not only about postal deliveries or the new proposals but also about the entire organisation and raise any matters of concern to them, their constituents and the people in relation to the whole running of An Post. We will have plenty of time to do so on 29 January.
The joint committee adjourned at 12.45 p.m. sine die.