There are five EU proposals in schedule A and 16 proposals in schedule B for discussion.
It is proposed that the proposals listed in Schedule B do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Schedule A proposals include COM (2013) 36, communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Parliament’s economic and social committee and the committee of the regions on setting up a European retail action plan; and COM (2013) 37, Green Paper on unfair trading practices in the business-to-business food and non-food supply chain in Europe. The communication is a significant development. It proposes specific actions to address the key obstacles that hinder the smooth function of the European retail sector to achieve a Single Market in retail. The Green Paper launches a consultation on unfair trading practices and has been published in conjunction with the European retail action plan. It is proposed the committee considers in more detail aspects of those elements of these communications that fall within its remit with the assistance of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and other stakeholders. It may also be appropriate to alert other relevant joint committees to aspects of these communications which may be relevant and of interest to them. It is proposed to forward these communications to other relevant joint committees for their attention with the advice note prepared by the policy clerk. Is that agreed? Agreed.
COM (2013) 78, a proposal for regulation on a consumer product safety and market surveillance package, repeals existing EU legislation in this area. The issue of product safety is clearly important. The proposed regulation also contains a subsidiarity check. Accordingly, it has been listed on schedule A for the committee’s consideration today. The proposal seeks to achieve a more coherent EU regulatory framework for product safety and it also seeks to clarify and simplify the product safety requirements for operators. As the Department has indicated its satisfaction with the proposal and supports it and no subsidiarity issues arise, it is proposed it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
COM (2013) 102, proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC, 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to align them to regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. Although this is important legislation generally, this proposal is making only technical amendments to current legislation which Ireland supports. As it does contain a subsidiarity check, however, it has been listed on schedule A for committee consideration today. As the proposal will have no significant impact on Ireland’s health and safety laws and no subsidiarity issues arise, it is proposed it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
COM (2013) 107, a proposal for establishing a space surveillance and tracking support programme, concerns a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council that Ireland supports. As it does contain a subsidiarity check, however, it has been listed on schedule A for committee consideration today. It is proposed it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.