This is an important meeting. We are hearing from six groups which have already made submissions on the position of full-time family carers in terms of the report we are preparing for submission to Government by late October or early November. The committee agrees we already have a fair view of each group's position and questions should be to the point. A number of the delegations have made significant journeys here so we must be appreciative of the fact that they may have trains, planes or buses to catch.
The following matters have been received and circulated to members: a list of decisions taken by the sub-committee on EU scrutiny at its meeting on 9 September 2003. Document COM/2003/468 has been referred to this committee for further scrutiny. It refers to the application of social security schemes to the employed and self-employed persons and members of their families moving within the Community and the procedure for implementing the regulations. Is it agreed that we will scrutinise this document? Agreed. Document COM/2003/378 which refers to the alignment of rights and the significance of procedures has been referred to this committee for information purposes. It has been forwarded to the Joint Committee on Health and Children for scrutiny. None of the other proposals is relevant to this committee. Is it agreed that we note the document? Agreed. We will look at the documents for our next meeting with a view to fixing dates for the carrying out of the appropriate scrutiny and for inviting relevant officials to assist us in this regard. We have another document from our last meeting on carbon energy tax.
We will note SI389/2003, Pensionable Amendment Act 2002, section 3, in so far as it relates to the insertion of section 121, except in so far as that section is already in operation, 123, 124(1) and 125 into the Pensions Act 1990, commencement Order 2003; SI397/2003 pensions (Ombudsman) regulations 2003 and SI398/2003, Pension Amendment Act 2002, section 5, except in so far as that section is already in operation, and sections 8 and 58, commencement Order 2003; SI399/2003, Social Welfare (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2003, section 23, commencement Order 2003.
We also have a letter from Mr. George McDonnell which the clerk to the committee will now circulate. The letter relates to carers. He is involved in the caring profession and has indicated he wants action in this area as opposed to replies. We will have to consider this matter in the context of the preparation of our report on this topic. It is not right to say we are not doing anything; we have worked on this throughout the summer recess.
We have also received an information leaflet on the publication entitled, Irish Social Expenditure in a Comparative International Context from the Institute of Public Administration. It deals with gross versus net social expenditure and financial expenditure. The publication is available for purchase from the IPA. It is a good report. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy can obtain one from the IPA. It costs €2. We received a copy from the IPA so that members may be aware of its recent publications.
We have also received an invitation from the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Mary Coughlan, on the occasion of the launch of the year-long consultation on the future development of family policy. That will take place on 24 September 2003 at 2 p.m. in the Government press centre. Members are invited to attend. I also received an invitation from a group that wants to meet us and make a presentation. It is from Mr. Joe McGlynn, writing in his capacity as national secretary of the CWO and the SCWO SIPTU executive group. It perceives a real danger to the nature and future of the service and believes that serious consideration should be given by Government to reviewing the removal of the administration of the service from the Department of Health and Children to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The group is determined to resist any such development as it is of the view that it would radically compromise the service given to the public. It is in the process of meeting with public representatives across the political spectrum and would welcome the opportunity to address this committee on any date during the next Dáil term.
