No. 5.20, COM (2006) 652, is a directive concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work. As part of the European Commission's initiative to simplify and clarify Community law, this proposal aims to codify a 1989 directive and amending directives concerning work equipment. The Department considers the directive to be purely technical and confirms that the directives being codified have already been transposed. It is proposed that this measure does not warrant any further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
No. 5.21, COM (2006) 657, is a proposal for a directive on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. This measure aims to codify a 1980 directive on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer. The directive and its amendments set out minimum requirements for the protection of entitlements in the case of insolvency, the provisions of which extend to part-time workers and workers on a fixed-term contract. The Department considers the proposed codifying directive to be purely technical and confirms that the original directive and its amendments have already been transposed into Irish law. It is proposed that this measure does not warrant any further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 5.22, COM (2006) 664, is a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in its information note also confirms that the directive and its amendments have already been transposed into Irish law and that the adoption of this proposed measure will have no implications for Ireland. It is proposed that this codifying measure does not warrant any further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 5.23, SEC (2006) 1378, is amending letter No. 3 to the preliminary draft budget for 2007. The Commission may amend its preliminary draft budget in the light of changed circumstances and new information. In this measure, the Commission proposed a number of budgetary amendments mainly concerning agriculture spending. The Commission considers that the total appropriations for agricultural expenditure are lower than expected, resulting from a downward revision of needs for direct aids and interventions on agricultural markets. The Department of Agriculture and Food indicates that the adoption of the measure would result in an €11.93 million decrease in Ireland's contribution to the EU budget in 2007. The Department's information note also states that it is not expected that the proposed reductions will have an impact on Ireland's receipts for agriculture and that assurance has been received from the Commission that the situation will be kept under review and amended if required. It is proposed that this proposal be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food for information in the context of the Department's comments on Ireland's receipts for agriculture. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 5.24, SEC (2006) 1410, is preliminary draft amending budget No. 6 to the general budget for 2006. The changes proposed here to the 2006 budget concern both changes to revenue and expenditure. Proposed changes to revenue totalling €2.47 billion arise from balancing payments due from member states for 2005 and previous years provisionally estimated at €1.65 billion, repayment of unused Community aid of €220 million and an increase in amounts initially forecast for interest on late payments and fines, borrowing and lending operations and miscellaneous revenue amounting to €510.5 million. Changes on the expenditure side forecast decreases as follows: an €852 million reduction in agricultural expenditure; and a €2.5 billion reduction in structural funds. The Department of Finance has indicated that the net reduction in Ireland's contribution as a result of the factors set out will be about €68 million. It is proposed that this proposal does not warrant any further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposals Nos. 5.25 to 5.27 are adopted. Proposal No. 5.25, COM (2006) 623, is a proposal for a Council decision on the partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities and their member states, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part, to adopt a recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Georgia action plan. Proposal No. 5.26, COM (2006) 627, is a proposal for a Council decision on the partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Communities and their member states, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, to adopt a recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Armenia action plan. Proposal No. 5.27, COM (2006) 637, is a proposal for a Council decision on the partnership and cooperation agreement between the European Communities and their member states, of the one part, and Azerbaijan, of the other part, to adopt a recommendation on the implementation of the EU-Azerbaijan action plan. In 2002, the European Council recognised the need to bring forward relations with countries bordering the enlarged European Union. In 2005, the Council welcomed moves to develop action plans that would give more structure and focus to relations with these states. In particular, the action plan is designed to act as a broad tool for economic and political co-operation, carrying to a further stage commitments and objectives in partnership and co-operation agreements. These measures concern approval for the Community to agree to the implementation of the plans by the relevant co-operation councils established by existing partnership and co-operation agreements. The plans provide, inter alia, for participation in certain EU programmes and priority actions to deepen the rule of law through, for example, public service reform. The Department of Foreign Affairs has now confirmed that the measures have been adopted and will forward an additional note outlining the background to the adoption of the measures in advance of their consideration by the scrutiny committee. It is proposed to note the adopted measures. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 5.28, COM (2006) 650, is a proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of the tenth European Development Fund. It is proposed that the proposed measure does not warrant further scrutiny. It is also proposed that this proposal which would be significant for the future of development co-operation with the ACP states be forwarded to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs for the particular information of its sub-committee on development matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 5.29, COM (2006) 683, is a proposal for a Council regulation imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of cotton-type bed linen originating in India. It is proposed that the proposed measure does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
We now turn to adopted measures — Nos. 6.1 to 6.5. Measure No. 6.1, COM (2006) 532, is an adaptation of foodstuffs directives to cater for the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. The aim of this proposal is to amend European Union legislation following the conclusion of the act of accession of Bulgaria and Romania. This is to make the technical amendments to the foodstuffs Directives 89/108/EEC and 2000/13/EC necessitated by the accession of these countries. The directives relate to quick-frozen foodstuffs for human consumption and labelling presentation and advertising of foodstuffs. It is proposed to note this adopted measure. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 6.2, COM (2006) 554, is a proposal for a Council regulation fixing for 2007 and 2008 the fishing opportunities for Community fishing vessels for certain deep-sea fish supplies. This proposal for a regulation fixing for 2007 and 2008 the fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks was agreed at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 21 November. This proposal sought to address concerns that current fishing levels of certain deep-sea stocks are unsustainable and took into account strong scientific advice received in June from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The proposal reduces immediately and significantly the total allowable catches, TACs. This reduction has included some species targeted by Irish vessels.
Aside from the reduction of the TACs, the Commission is also currently preparing a review of the overall regime for deep-sea species and intends to present a separate proposal regarding future effort management. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources had indicated that this proposal is of major significance for Ireland and has provided an update for the committee of the discussions at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council which agreed the measure. The additional information received from the Department has been circulated and I note that Ireland's quota for 2007 has been reduced from the 1,416 tonnes available in 2006 to 902 tonnes, a reduction of approximately 36%. The Department is of the opinion that this represents a good balance between the need to strengthen conservation for these stocks and deliver reasonable opportunities for those vessels which have specialised in deep sea fishing. It is proposed to note this adopted measure and to forward to the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for further information, particularly in light of the Commission's plans to further legislate in this area. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 6.3, COM (2006) 608, is a proposal for a decision on Decision No. 1/2006 of the joint veterinary committee set up by the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products. This proposal for a Council decision was approved by the Transport Council on 23 November. It is described by the Department of Agriculture and Food as a technical proposal with no implications for Ireland and is due to be implemented on 1 January 2007. The proposal concerns the adoption by the Community of a position on a decision of the joint veterinary committee set up under the agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products. The decision of the veterinary committee seeks to amend the appendices of the agreement to take into account changes in EC and Swiss legislation. It is proposed to note this adopted measure. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 6.4, COM (2006) 598, is a proposal for a regulation on the import of certain steel products originating in Ukraine. This proposal for a regulation on the import of certain steel products originating in Ukraine was approved on 23 November at the meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment states that this purely technical proposal, which has no reported difficulties for Ireland and for which no implementation measures are required, sets quantitative limits on the importation into the Community of certain steel products, such as coils and beams. It is proposed to note this adopted measure. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal No. 6.5, COM (2006) 659, is a proposal for a decision concerning the accession of Vietnam to the World Trading Organisation. It is proposed to note the measure. It is also proposed that the measure be forwarded for information to the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business in the context of the enhanced market opportunities in Vietnam. Is that agreed? Agreed.
There are no early warning notes for this meeting. The draft 74th report has been circulated. I propose that it be forwarded to the Joint Committee on European Affairs for agreement to lay it before both Houses with appendices. Is that agreed? Agreed.