Apologies have been received from Deputy Ó Caoláin, Senator O'Toole, who may attend later, and Deputy Burton, who is otherwise engaged. The draft minutes of the last meeting of the joint committee of 11 May 2005 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising from the minutes? No.
The next item is correspondence. Details of correspondence received by the committee have been circulated. The first item relates to the decision taken by the Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny on 11 May 2005. I propose we note it and agree that none of its proposals warrant scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The committee has received a letter from IFSRA concerning the authority of the financial regulator, which I suggest we note. I have received an invitation to attend the annual meeting of the Committee on Budgets and Chairs of the Budgetary Committees of the EU national parliaments on 16 June 2005. I attended that conference last year and I would be grateful if the committee would agree that the Vice-Chairman attend in my place on this occasion. Agreed. On that matter, rules governing travel by committee members require that any travel must be directly and explicitly linked to an area of work in which the committee has become involved pursuant to its orders of reference and in the context of its work programme. We are also required to state the reasons the travel is considered necessary. The role of the committee is to review major areas of policy falling within the remit of the Minister for Finance. Attendance at this meeting affords the committee an opportunity to outline its priorities on the forthcoming EU budgets and it is important that a delegation or representative should attend to improve our understanding of the allocation of EU budgets in the future. Is it agreed that these are suitable reasons for the visit? Agreed. Is it the view of the committee that, given the short distance, economy class travel is appropriate subject to the fares being fully refundable? Agreed. The clerk will make the necessary arrangements with the Vice-Chairman.
SI 233 of 2005, relating to the Prize Bonds (Amendment) Regulations 2005, states that a prize bond must be fully paid for and have a valid number before a prize can be claimed. Can we note that? Agreed. I am surprised it took so long to get around to that regulation.
In line with the way we dealt with the correspondence for today's meeting, I propose a standard procedure for the future whereby we note and publish the items received. That will be our general approach, so that we do not need to obtain formal agreement to publish when journalists or members of the public seek information. If letters are received from an individual on a personal or specific matter, we will deal with those separately or in private session.