I move: "That the Joint Committee invite officials from the Department of the Environment and the Department of Economic Planning and Development to discuss how the Government's Road Development Plan for the 1980's can be best used to ensure that the maximum amount of grants are obtained by the State from Comunity funds."
Government’s Road Development Plan.
Deputy Quinn's motion has been circulated. In relation to this I should like to state that under the terms of reference of this Committee we are entitled to examine, firstly, programmes and guidelines prepared by the Commission as a basis for possible legislative action. Secondly, we are entitled to examine drafts of Council regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions prepared by the Commission. Thirdly, we are entitled to examine acts of the institutions of the European Communities and, fourthly, statutory instruments. Deputy Quinn's motion in its terms does not ask for an examination of any of these items and, therefore, technically it is out of order. However, it may be that an alternative motion could achieve the purpose and secure the Deputy's objective if the Committee wish to go that way.
There are not any matters which come within the first, second or fourth terms of reference; there are no programmes and guidlines, no drafts of Council regulations etc., and no statutory instruments but Acts of the institutions, the third term of reference, are understood to comprehend regulations, directives and other instruments mentioned in Article 189 of the Treaty. The instrument containing the rules governing grants from the regional fund is Regulation No. 724/75 adopted by the Council on 18 March 1975 and amended by Regulation 214/79, which was adopted on 6 February 1979. Under the third term of reference, and the regulations being an Act of the institutions, I can invite Deputy Quinn to move an alternative motion to the effect that the Committee examine the regulations I have drawn attention to with particular reference to the possibility of aid being made available for the Government's road development plan for the eighties. Such a motion would be in order and if the Committee desire to pass it discussions with officials of the Departments should elicit whether the funds might be available from other Community sources. Does the Deputy agree with that?
I accept that.
Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
On the basis of a discussion which we had on the regional fund I was wondering if this might be widened because it appeared to us that suggestions were being made that integrated plans for development might be made to Brussels, for example, road development, infrastructure, water sewerage, telecommunications and the general fabric rather than roads specifically. If that could be done we would be more in line with the plans that seem to have been absent in Brussels as far as we are concerned, down through the years. Would Deputy Quinn accept that?
I regarded my motion as drafted as one that could be refined by the Committee so that the objective which we all share is achieved, to make the best use of the experience gained on our visit to Brussels. I wanted to ascertain the best way that we should approach the Community in relation to getting substantial aid for infrastructural development. I agree with Deputy Smith, who said it was not just roads we are talking about; it was a question of showing how Ireland's infrastructure can be improved to raise our standard of living. It was for that reason that the Department of Economic Planning and Development was joined with the Department of the Environment in the motion. It was because the Government's Road Development Plan was referred to at that briefing in Brussels that I incorporated it in the motion. I accept the Chair's guidance in relation to our orders of reference.
Would the Deputy now move the alternative motion?
I move:
That the Joint Committee examine Regulations (EEC) No. 724/75 as amended by Regulations (EEC) No. 214/79 with particular reference to the possibility of aid being made available for Ireland's infrastructural development in the 1980's.
Motion agreed to.
The Joint Committee adjourned at 8.15 p.m.