Apologies have been received from Deputies Ciarán Lynch and Tuffy and Senator Coffey. The minutes of the meeting of 24 June and 1 July have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.
The next item on the agenda is correspondence. The first item is No. 171, the newsletter of the European Water Partnership. No. 172 is an invitation to attend a conference on urban development to be held in Rotterdam on 22 and 23 September sent by the European Urban Knowledge Network. We will note the correspondence and ask members to talk to the convenor and, if they are interested in attending the conference, to inform the clerk before next week.
No. 173 is a press release from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on a photo exhibition taking place in St. Stephen's Green. No. 174 is the European Parliament directive on water quality and the control of pollutants which was e-mailed from the European Parliament office.
No. 175 is a reply from An Bord Pleanála to the concerns raised by the Irish Rural Dwellers Association. I suggest we note the correspondence and circulate the document directly to the Irish Rural Dwellers Association which raised issues about An Bord Pleanála, with a copy of the Minister's contribution at our last meeting on 24 June when he dealt with the topic.
The next item is a notice from the Journal Office regarding the replacement on the joint committee of Deputy John Cregan by Deputy Johnny Brady. The correspondence is noted. Deputy Brady was present at the last meeting of the committee.
No. 177 is the Environment Policy Newsletter. No. 178 is an invitation from a European organisation for the homeless to attend a conference to be held in Cardiff on 13 and 14 November. If members are interested in attending, they should contact the convenor and notify the clerk. Attendance is subject to the committee's travel budget.
No. 179 is a ministerial press release and a letter from Deputy Stanton requesting an emergency meeting of the joint committee to discuss the legacy of waste issue at Haulbowline. There was an extensive debate on the matter in the Dáil before the recess. The correspondence was received in advance of that debate.
No. 180 is Statutory Instrument 199 of 2008 - waste management landfill levy regulations 2008. As there has been an increase in landfill levies, the statutory instrument is noted.
No. 181 is a ministerial press release on the opening of an archaeological congress in Dublin which is noted. The next item is a ministerial press release on the examination of the Ringsend waste water treatment plant.
No. 183 is a press release from the Minister on the victory of Kenmare in Ireland's best kept town competition 2008. I offer my congratulations; I did not know the town had won the award. I presume it is the 32 county tidy town's award. The results of the competition with which we are familiar are not announced until September. The result of this competition was announced in Belfast. The towns and villages in the top ten in the Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland competitions last year entered a special competition which was judged earlier in the year. I congratulate all those concerned.
The next item is a list of the decisions taken at the meeting at the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny. The correspondence is noted.
No. 185 is a newsletter from the Combat Poverty Agency on the directory of community development courses. The correspondence is noted.
The next item is a ministerial press release on the European Court of Justice ruling on the Derrybrien wind farm development that would normally require an environmental impact statement under the EIA directive. Those with an interest in the matter may follow it up.
No. 187 is a press release on the subject of graffiti and anti-litter grants, a copy of which I think all members have received. Local authorities are receiving a grant for an anti-litter campaign and the removal of graffiti, if required.
No. 188 is a STEP International newsletter on environmental matters issued by the Canadian trade commissioner. No. 189 is confirmation of the date of a presentation to the joint committee in Buswells Hotel by the Society for General Microbiology.
