Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport debate -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2019

Business of Joint Committee

Chairman

We are now in public session. The minutes of the meetings of 6 and 14 February have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. I turn now to correspondence. On No. 2019/401, it is proposed to note this correspondence and to forward it to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross. Is that agreed? Agreed. On Nos. 2019/402A and 2019/402B, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed to note No. 2019/403? Agreed.

It is proposed to note the concerns raised in No. 2019/403 and forward it to the Minister of State with responsibility for sport, Deputy Griffin, for his observations. Is that agreed? Agreed. It is proposed to consider Nos. 2019/404A and 2019/404B as part of the committee's work programme. The clerk has brought the following to my attention. The correspondence concerns the reappointment of Maurice O'Gorman to the board of Galway Harbour Company for a two-year period. He was before the committee last April. If members feel we need to bring him in again, that is no problem. Alternatively, we could consent to him continuing in office for the two years. I am in the hands of the committee entirely. The correspondence consists of an email from Mary Daly in the office of the Minister, Deputy Ross, dated 11 February stating that the Minister has consented to the reappointment of Maurice O'Gorman for a two-year period. Mr. O'Gorman came here last April. There is no problem bringing him in again. It is just that it would be to ask the same questions he was asked the last time.

Deputy Robert Troy

Was he only appointed for a year?

Chairman

He was only appointed until the end of April 2019. His first appointment was for a year as that is what was left to run in the term.

Deputy Robert Troy

He came in towards the tail end of an original term and his term is being extended.

Chairman

Yes. There is no problem. It is a matter for the committee.

Senator John O'Mahony

We should not bring him in again if it was such a short time ago.

Deputy Robert Troy

I have no problem with that. I was just seeking clarity.

Chairman

Is the proposal that the committee consents to the reappointment of Mr. Maurice O'Gorman agreed to? Agreed. Correspondence Nos. 2019/405A and 2019/405B were considered at our meeting of 14 February when we agreed to reschedule the meeting with the Football Association of Ireland for 10 April.

Senator John O'Mahony

I was not in attendance at the last meeting. On the appearance of Mr. John Delaney, I note that the financial controller has resigned and will leave the FAI at the end of March. I presume that whatever discussion comes up will involve financial matters. I am concerned that the meeting will not be as thorough as it might need to be in that circumstance. I just raise that concern.

Chairman

Does the Senator propose that we try to reschedule before the end of March?

Senator John O'Mahony

Who was due to come in as part of the delegation?

Chairman

There are four named persons in the correspondence. We can come back to the Senator in a minute when the clerk gets the information.

Senator John O'Mahony

I am not suggesting there is anything untoward.

Chairman

Mr. Delaney proposed to bring in four persons. If the Senator wishes, we will come back to this item when we get those names. We will leave it aside for the moment and return to it later in the meeting.

Senator John O'Mahony

Perfect.

Chairman

Correspondence No. 2019/406 was considered on 14 February. We are reissuing the invitation to the Minister to attend to discuss rural transport. Is that agreed?

Deputy Imelda Munster

The Minister said that, unfortunately and due to pressure of work, he could not attend but this is his job.

Chairman

Of course.

Deputy Imelda Munster

He gave commitments on rural transport and should be here to answer questions and be scrutinised. It is unreal to say "due to pressure of work" when this is his job. He has made commitments and is transferring his responsibilities to others. He should be here to answer questions, in particular when rural transport is on its knees.

Chairman

We agreed on 14 February to reissue the invitation.

Deputy Imelda Munster

Yes but I refer to the response. He said he was satisfied that the session will be worthwhile as the NTA will be attendance. He is the head buck cat and it is unacceptable.

Chairman

He is.

Deputy Imelda Munster

It is hard to credit that he refers to the pressure of work.

Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe

He is over in the Department of Justice and Equality.

Deputy Imelda Munster

And he cannot be here to answer questions when rural transport is in crisis.

Chairman

On a point of information, we agreed on 14 February to reissue the invitation to him and asked him to make himself available at a date to be agreed.

Deputy Imelda Munster

It is still unacceptable. We are having this meeting today.

Chairman

I am only making the point that we have asked him to make himself available. It is quite right that the Minister should be here. He cannot be here today but we have asked for him to be here as soon as possible.

Deputy Imelda Munster

The answer says "he is satisfied, however" regarding the meeting. In other words, he is happy to kick his responsibilities over to others.

Chairman

The committee has made it clear in response to him that we want him to come here at a date to be agreed. We have already decided that.

Deputy Imelda Munster

How long ago was that response sent?

Chairman

It was agreed on 14 February that we would write to him.

Deputy Imelda Munster

That is almost a fortnight ago and we have got no confirmation back from him.

Chairman

The clerk tells me it is up for discussion today.

Deputy Imelda Munster

He is in no hurry to address the issues.

Chairman

Does any other member wish to comment?

Deputy Robert Troy

It is unusual. Previously, when we sought to have the Minister attend and there was a clash in his diary, he would say that he would be available on such a day. This is the first time he has not indicated an alternative date. He did not actually say there was a clash in the diary, he referred to the pressure of work and his busy schedule. I would place a bet that if one went to the Members' bar at 11 a.m., the Minister would be there having his elvenses. He has deferred the matter to another organisation this morning and he has not offered an alternative date. That is out of sync with what, in fairness, he normally does. We have asked him to attend to discuss issues before. When he has not been able to come on the proposed date, he has always offered an alternative.

Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe

It is the very same Minister who wants to push legislation through who has us here today on the problem he created. He put through legislation with no solution.

Chairman

I am in the members' hands. According to the minutes of 14 February, we asked to reschedule the meeting. The letter did not issue yet because we were to discuss the issue today. We will issue the invitation again and ask the clerk to make contact with the Minister's private secretary to fix a date as soon as possible and certainly within the next couple of weeks.

Deputy Imelda Munster

I thought the invitation was sent on 14 February.

Chairman

No. The item was considered on 14 February and the members agreed to reissue the invitation for a date to be confirmed.

Deputy Imelda Munster

When was that issued to the Minister?

Chairman

We have to confirm the date. The letter has not issued because the correspondence is only being seen by the full committee today.

Deputy Imelda Munster

Surely, we agreed on 14 February.

The joint committee went into private session at 9.50 a.m. and resumed in public session at 9.52 a.m.

Chairman

We are now in public session. The clerk has explained that our last meeting was a private meeting and there was no public part of that meeting. It is a decision of this committee that all correspondence must be dealt with in public. This is the first opportunity we have had to discuss this formally as a committee. The consensus is that it will issue today and that the clerk will make direct contact with his private secretary and he will inform us of the outcome of that immediately.

Deputy Imelda Munster

He should pass on the committee's concerns that he has not seen fit to make himself available on such a very important issue. He has said he is under pressure from work, but this is actually his job.

Chairman

Is that agreed? That is agreed.

On No. 2019/407, it is proposed to note this correspondence because they will appear before the committee this morning. No. 2019/408 is on the proposal to arrange a visit to the Coast Guard marine rescue co-ordination as soon as possible. We are trying to do that.

Deputy Imelda Munster

I believe we have all received correspondence from the Coast Guard outlining its grave concerns particularly on how the directive on the blue lights and sirens would impede its ability to respond to an emergency. We should invite not just senior Coast Guard representatives, but also staff and volunteers, including the volunteers who have raised grave concerns with this latest directive. I propose to invite them to appear before the committee.

Chairman

That is fine. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will ask the clerk to arrange that.

On 2019/409, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. On 2019/410A and 2019/410B, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. On 2019/411, it is proposed to note this correspondence and forward it to the National Transport Authority, NTA, for comment. Is that agreed? Agreed. On 2019/412A and 2019/412B, it is proposed to note this correspondence. That relates to the issue that arose earlier on the Football Association of Ireland. We have the names of the people who can take that other issue. Rea Walshe proposed that John Delaney, CEO; Fran Gavin, director of competitions; Rea Walshe, corporate affairs and licensing director; Karen Campion, director of business partnerships and strategy; and Ruud Dokter, high performance director, would come to our meeting on 10 April. Senator O'Mahony asked about the financial director.

Senator John O'Mahony

Obviously, Deputy Catherine Murphy proposed this to discuss corporate governance. Surely corporate governance would include the financial director.

Chairman

Is the Senator suggesting that we would get a date in March?

Senator John O'Mahony

I am just pointing out the issue. While strategy is one thing, it is about corporate governance. Deputy Murphy is not here; perhaps she would have a view on that.

Chairman

We can do two things. We can ask the FAI if the person concerned is no longer employed by the organisation. I do not know what the case is. The Senator may wish to have that included specifically. From our perspective the meeting is about corporate. The clerk has advised me that the chief executive officer is the person accountable for that issue before us.

Senator John O'Mahony

Fair enough, but it is just-----

Chairman

It is a very important issue.

Senator John O'Mahony

Am I correct in saying that the meeting has been postponed twice?

Chairman

Yes. I hear the Senator. We have set that meeting for 10 April. Would the Senator like us to try for an earlier date if possible? It is probably unlikely; that is the date.

Senator John O'Mahony

We have agreed to that at this stage.

Chairman

The Senator has raised an important point.

Senator John O'Mahony

I am not making any-----

Chairman

Not at all.

Senator John O'Mahony

-----allegations, but I just felt in the context of the invitation it was-----

Chairman

Okay. We note that correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

On No. 2019/413, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe

What is this about?

Chairman

It is an email received from Pádraig Kelly from the office of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Jim Daly, dated 18 February regarding the upcoming joint committee meeting on rural taxis, thanking us for his invitation to appear. He has other commitments and he has suggested another witness to appear who is actually here today.

Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe

Okay.

Chairman

On Nos. 2019/414A and 2019/414B, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. On No. 2019/415, it is proposed to note this correspondence. That is about the people appearing today. Is that agreed? Agreed. On No. 2019/416, Deputy Rock is not here at the moment but he had expressed concerns about the MetroLink and suggested that we should have a discussion with representatives of the NTA on it. The matter was also raised in the Dáil. It would be in order for the clerk to invite representatives from the NTA to appear before the committee to discuss BusConnects and MetroLink as soon as we can. Is that agreed? Agreed.

On Nos. 2019/417A and 2019/417B, it is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 2019/418 is an email from Deputy Eamon Ryan regarding the metro for the southside of Dublin. The committee has decided that this item will be considered as part of our work programme. We will inform the Deputy that we will soon invite the relevant representatives to appear.