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Seanad Éireann debate -
Friday, 3 Jun 1983

Vol. 100 No. 15

Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies: Motion.

I move:

1. That Seanad Éireann concurs with Dáil Éireann in its Resolution communicated to Seanad Éireann on 2 June, 1983, that it is expedient that a Joint Committee (which shall be called the Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies) consisting of 7 members of the Dáil and 4 members of the Seanad (none of whom shall be a member of the Government or a Minister of State) be appointed to examine the Reports and Accounts and overall operational results of State-sponsored bodies referred to in the Schedule hereto and to report thereon to both Houses of the Oireachtas and to make recommendations where appropriate.

2. That, after consultation with the Joint Committee, the Minister for the Public Service with the agreement of the Minister for Finance may include from time to time the names of further State-sponsored Bodies in the Schedule and, with the consent of the Joint Committee and the Minister for Finance, may delete from the Schedule the names of any bodies.

3. That, if so requested by a State-sponsored Body, the Joint Committee shall refrain from publishing confidential information regarding the Body's activities and plans.

4. That the Joint Committee shall have power to send for persons, papers and records and, subject to the consent of the Minister for the Public Service, to engage the services of persons with specialist or technical knowledge to assist it for the purpose of particular inquiries.

5. That the Joint Committee, previous to the commencement of business, shall elect one of its members to be Chairman, who shall have only one vote.

6. That all questions in the Joint Committee shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting and in the event of there being an equality of votes the question shall be decided in the negative.

7. That the Joint Committee shall have power to print and publish from time to time minutes of evidence taken before it together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

8. That every report which the Joint Committee proposes to make shall on adoption by the Joint Committee be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas forthwith whereupon the Joint Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report together with such related documents as it thinks fit.

9. That 4 members of the Joint Committee shall form a Quorum of whom at least I shall be a member of Dáil Éireann and at least I shall be a member of Seanad Éireann.

Schedule

Aer Lingus, Teoranta

Aer Línte Éireann, Teoranta

Aer Rianta, Teoranta

The Agricultural Credit Corporation Limited

Arramara Teoranta

Bord na Móna

British and Irish Steam Packet Company Limited

Ceimicí Teoranta

Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann, Teoranta

Córas Iompair Éireann

Electricity Supply Board

Fóir Teoranta

Industrial Credit Company Limited

The Irish Gas Board

Irish Life Assurance Company Limited

Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited

The Irish National Stud Company Limited

Irish Shipping Limited

Irish Steel Limited

National Building Agency Limited

Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta

Óstlanna Iompair Éireann Teoranta

Radio Telefís Éireann

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Voluntary Health Insurance Board.

I appreciate what Senator Ferris has said, that we may be able to discuss these at a later stage. What we are, in effect, doing here is encouraging the other House to go ahead with the passing of substantive motions. I just want to say at this stage that the proposal here is to have 11 members on the Joint Committee on Commercial State-Sponsored Bodies. Having been on that committee for a number of years, I can say that the number is quite inadequate. Most of the other committees have a much higher membership. It is practically impossible, in the ordinary course of events, to get a quorum from 11 members. The Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the EEC has something like 25 members. I am making the point that the number from both Houses should be increased to enable a satisfactory number to be able to attend these meetings. It happened during 1977 to 1981 that we had three or four very dedicated members who attended almost every meeting and it was only because of that that the committee worked at all. I would suggest that this aspect of the committee be looked at and that an increased number be provided for.

Question put and agreed to.
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