Is there any other business?
Business of Joint Committee.
What is the timescale or the next stage?
The secretariat has prepared a summary of the submissions we have received. The presentations made today will have to be incorporated. They were probably an expansion of what we have received. It was a useful exercise for this committee. This is an all-party committee and we can only do our best and make recommendations. When one looks at the volume of correspondence from individuals, it behoves us to make a stringent effort and strong recommendations to the Minister. I have no doubt the Ministers for Social and Family Affairs and Health and Children will be emboldened with our support.
Some of the submissions made today came from the heart. When one hears such pleas, it certainly cuts through the reams of bureaucracy. The message is that we must simplify the code regarding access to carer's allowance. A number of the recommendations we received today were most worthwhile.
We have a huge work programme and with the scrutiny of legislation, it seems to increase every week. I note the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government met with an expert on the issue of carbon taxes. We will probably have to meet with the same expert and go through this issue in detail.
There seems to be a legislative basis in Northern Ireland and Britain in relation to carers and carers rights. It is incumbent on us to investigate this before we compile our report. It would be foolish of us not to take cognisance of what exists right beside us. It was referred to in a number of the presentations today. The clerk may well discover more information on this and then we will be able to take the next step.
We may get the opportunity to meet the relevant people at the conference we are due to attend.
We will have to bring home new ideas from that conference. I thank the members for their excellent attendance throughout the meeting. Our decision to have oral hearings has been a wise and prudent one. I thank the secretariat and staff for facilitating us.
The joint committee adjourned at 6.07 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 October 2003.