JOINT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sub-Committee on Human Rights) debate -
Thursday, 17 Jul 2003

Vol. 1 No. 27

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

I welcome members and, in particular, Mr. Ó Neachtain, MEP, on his first visit to this sub-committee.

I spoke with the Chairperson of the joint committee concerning a request from one of the presenting groups from our last meeting. Some members will recall that a suggestion was made to arrange a visit to west Papua as part of a fact finding mission. Unfortunately, I have to inform the sub-committee that the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs has indicated that no funds for any such visit are currently available.

Senator Mooney

Not specific to the west Papua case, could we establish, notwithstanding there is tight budgetary control pertaining across all committees, what share of the budget this sub-committee has? Most of the proposed visits are emanating from the joint committee. It is not in the best interests of the sub-committee that we are restricted to the point that we will not be able to travel at all. I am sure the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Development Co-operation, Senator Kitt, will agree with me. It will severely restrict the work programme of this sub-committee if we are constantly told that, due to budgetary restrictions, there can be no visits. It sets a dangerous precedent.

Chairman

I will take up this point with the Chairman of the joint committee and stress the necessity for this sub-committee to have a travel budget.