Might I ask when the Joint Committee will have its next public meeting? I note that our last meeting was on 30th June. An idea has been discussed that the Joint Committee should examine its work load, its programme to date, and the way in which it has achieved its role as a watchdog committee. I should like to know whether this might be done at the next meeting of the Joint Committee and if it might be considered in the meantime by a subcommittee, if that is deemed appropriate, and if we might perhaps invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to be present at such a discussion.
Business of Committee.
We should certainly have such an item on our agenda soon. I visualise that our next meeting will be on the first Wednesday in December. Whether it would be a bit premature to try to have it on the agenda for that meeting I am not sure. I will discuss it informally with members between now and then and see if we can bring it forward. Perhaps we might aim at bringing it forward at our first meeting in the new year and try to get some preparatory work done on it in the meantime. Members know what is involved here. It is clear that this Committee could, at this stage, with advantage examine its role, its functions, how it has operated so far, and perhaps make recommendations, if not for our own improvement as a committee at least to lay down some guidelines for our successor committee in the next Oireachtas. That is a very valuable piece of work we could undertake before we go out of business.
We should consider our own standing orders and our own terms of reference as well.
The Senator is talking about the policy affairs of the EEC.
Our whole approach to our work and in particular our terms of reference and our impact on the Oireachtas.
That is very necessary. Thank you very much.
The Committee adjourned at 5 p.m.