JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE debate -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2007

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

Some minor matters of correspondence must be dealt with before the exchange of views with the House of Commons Treasury committee. Are the minutes of the meeting of 14 February 2007 agreed? Agreed.

One item of correspondence, regarding Senator O'Toole, has been deferred and will be dealt with at the next meeting. We have received an acknowledgement from the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, dated 8 February, regarding pensions for farmers' spouses. The next item is an acknowledgement from the Minister for Finance of the ongoing case of the Revenue Commissioners and the Ombudsman. Is it agreed to note it? Agreed. The next item is an acknowledgement from the Secretary General of the Department of Finance regarding pensions payable to retired prison officers. A reply will be issued as soon as possible.

The next item concerns a letter from Deputy Nolan regarding meeting the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group. This group, which has written to committee members, has a meeting scheduled in Buswell's Hotel today. I am meeting them this afternoon.

Deputy Nolan

Is Deputy Fleming meeting the group is his role as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service?

Chairman

Yes, and others are meeting the group as well.

The next matter is a response from IFSRA, dated 14 February, to the joint committee regarding the interim report on the policy of commercial banks. We will hold this matter over to allow members to read it. We reported on the banking sector last year. In the interests of fairness to IFSRA, we will give people an opportunity to read the ten-page document and deal with it at the next meeting.

Document No. 35 is a letter from an individual regarding the Information Commissioner. We will note the correspondence. The last item is a letter from Deputy Ó Snodaigh, dated 12 December, regarding an Irish language day. He suggests that committees deal with business in Irish on a particular day. We should refer this to the Oireachtas Commission to see if there is general agreement. It applies to all committees and could be considered later in the year. On that day I would have to stand aside because my Irish is not the best.

Deputy P. McGrath

It is a matter for the Working Group of Committee Chairmen, not the Commission.

Chairman

I will put it on the agenda of the Working Group of Committee Chairmen.

There was a telephone request from the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, to appear before the committee to discuss the latest report on the public service. I suggest we reply but we cannot give a date for a meeting because the committee is busy with legislation and Estimates. We have three meetings on Estimates for the OPW, the Department of Finance and the Department of the Taoiseach. The committee is dealing with legislation tomorrow and next week. We will agree in principle but cannot set a date. We will postpone discussion on statutory instruments and EU scrutiny until the next meeting.

Deputy C. Murphy

Does the Chairman expect the NESC to appear before the committee?

Chairman

No.

Deputy C. Murphy

The committee is top heavy on finance and public services.

Chairman

I would like to invite them but on 13 March we must deal with Committee Stage of the Statute Law Revision Bill; on 22 March, Estimates of the Department of Finance; on 28 March, Estimates of the OPW; and the Taoiseach has agreed to attend on 4 April to discuss the Estimates of the Department of the Taoiseach. That is a date in the diary of Easter week. We are obliged to complete these matters by a certain date according to an order of the Dáil. We do not have discretion with regard to Estimates or legislation.

Deputy C. Murphy

Public services are a matter to which we should pay attention.

Chairman

We will see if some of these matters can double up. Some may be short meetings and we could fit both items on the agenda. Every week until Easter is covered at the moment.

Sitting suspended at 11.15 a.m. and resumed at 11.20 a.m.