JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, MARINE AND NATURAL RESOURCES debate -
Wednesday, 4 Apr 2007

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

I thank Messrs. O'Neill, O'Connor and O'Sullivan for attending the committee and for the excellent report they have compiled. We look forward to engaging with them in the future.

As this is possibly the last meeting of the joint committee, I want to make some short remarks to members. At the inaugural meeting of the joint committee on 13 November 2002, I was nominated as Chairman by Deputy O'Donovan and seconded by Deputy McEllistrim. I was honoured to be elected Chairman of the committee. My time as Chairman has been memorable and fulfilling, and the volume of work which the committee has done has been immense. The committee has produced major reports on broadband, energy, salmon, broadcasting, licensing of local radio and non-ionising radiation from mobile telephone handsets and masts.

The work of the joint committee was carried out during the 29th Dáil at 105 joint committee meetings, 30 select committee meetings and 24 ICT sub-committee and salmon sub-committee meetings. The commitment and dedication of those who have served on the joint committee throughout the term of the 29th Dáil often goes unseen and unrecognised. I extend my appreciation to current members: Deputies Broughan, Durkan, Ferris, Fitzpatrick, Kelly, McEllistrim, O'Donovan, Fiona O'Malley, Perry and Eamon Ryan; and Senators Finucane, Kenneally, MacSharry and O'Meara. I include in my appreciation members of the joint committee who went on to serve the Oireachtas and the public in other ways, namely, Deputies Coveney, Keogh and Martin Brady.

I want to make special mention of the two members of staff who have served the joint committee in the most unstinting fashion and with the utmost of professionalism: Mr. Ronan Lenihan, the clerk to the committee, and Ms Siobhán Murtagh, who has been with us for the past four years. I also thank the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including the staff in the Office of the Editor of Debates and the broadcasting unit, the sound engineers and the director of committees, Mr. Art O'Leary, and the deputy director, Mr. Padraic Donlon. I thank all the staff of the committee secretariat, including in particular, Mr. David Alwright, Mr. Paul Campbell, Ms Katie Harrington and Ms Jenny Duane for their hard work and assistance to members of the joint committee.

Mr. O'Neill will not like to hear that our third report on broadband is due next week but we have made only two recommendations. In the next week or two, we will publish the report on our e-consultation on the draft legislative proposals on broadcasting. Hearings of the joint committee on that matter were held over two days. It was an honour that they were the first Oireachtas committee proceedings to be webcast. The Broadcasting Bill 2006 was excellent but I hope Mr. O'Neill will not mind that we made a number of recommendations which we hope will be helpful to the policy makers in his Department.

This is our last meeting but the only date I cannot provide today is that of the general election. Members will have to wait a few more days before learning that date.

Deputy Perry

I wish to be associated with the comments made by the Chairman. I have had the privilege to sit on the Committee of Public Accounts for the past two and a half years. That committee meets weekly and deals with a significant volume of work but the output by this committee must be on a par, thanks to the work done by the Chairman. I congratulate him on the number of substantial reports he has prepared across the range of this committee's responsibilities.

It has been a period of challenge and change in the telecommunications sector but the Chairman has put clear markers on the Government in a fair minded way. With regard to the Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006, his interest in the well-being of end users was respected by everybody. The output of this committee has been extraordinary and a lot of its recommendations have been taken into consideration. They arose not only from the report we discussed today but from other far-reaching reports. I also applaud its level of involvement with private interest groups. The success of the economy has been based on a unique partnership of State and public service providers and private enterprise to encourage private investment. In that regard, a marker was put down in the way the committee encouraged Eircom to supply a critical service in the Black Valley .

The work of the clerk to the committee and all his staff has been extraordinary. I am astonished at their dedication and commitment and the research and preparation they undertake prior to meetings to ensure all the necessary reports are available on demand on the Internet or as hard copies. The clerk must work a 40-hour weekend, let alone a 40-hour week.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my stint as Vice Chairman of the committee for the past two years. I have had very little work to do because the Chairman is the most determined I have yet to meet and I do not believe he has missed a meeting. That does credit to his commitment to the job. I hope the Opposition parties will get the opportunity to form the next administration but the electorate will decide. If it decides in favour of the present Government, any elevation of the Chairman will be well earned and I hope the Taoiseach, whoever he or she is, will recognise his work. I congratulate him on an outstanding job.

Deputy Durkan

The Chairman has had almost as many final sessions as a rock star. We may yet have another final session next week. I compliment him on the work he has undertaken since I became a member of the committee two years ago. I have been a member of many committees, including the Committee of Public Accounts, the DIRT Inquiry, the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Joint Committee on European Affairs. This committee has been very effective and has addressed the pertinent issues, applying pressure where necessary.

The Chairman has been impervious to our critics in the media and it is important to develop armour to deflect such criticism, much in the way a mirror reflects the sun, turning the criticism back in the direction whence it came. He should be complimented on developing that approach. I also compliment all the staff who have worked extremely hard.

Do not forget to give our regards to the Minister and tell him we said "Hi".

Chairman

Every politician should have a thick skin to serve as a coat of armour. I will leave the last word to Mr. O'Neill from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Mr. O’Neill

I am honoured to be the last voice to speak at this committee because every time I have come before it I have had an enjoyable, though testing, experience. It is a very hard-working committee and its output helps the process of making policy in the Department. The report we have been discussing on electromagnetic fields is a shining example of a project that was initiated in this committee and has effectively changed the landscape in terms of the way the Government now deals with the issue.

I thank members on my behalf, that of the Minister, who was present yesterday, and all the staff of the Department.

The joint committee adjourned at 4.55 p.m. sine die.