Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Jun 2011

Vol. 208 No. 9

Establishment of Committees: Motions

Senator Maurice Cummins

I move:

(1) That Select Committees as set out in column (1) of the Schedule hereto are hereby appointed pursuant to Standing Order 70A.

(2) Each Committee shall perform the functions set out in Standing Order 70A in respect of the Government Department or Departments listed in column (2) opposite each Committee (in anticipation of the coming into effect of the necessary Government Orders in relation to names of Departments and titles of Ministers and transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions).

(3) The number of members appointed to each Select Committee shall be as set out in column (3).

(4) Each Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee appointed by Dáil Éireann to form a Joint Committee to carry out the functions set out in Standing Order 70A.

(5) Each Select Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Orders 101 and 103.

(6) Each Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Orders 71 (other than paragraph (2A) thereof), 101 and 103.

(7) The Select Committee at row 6 of the Schedule shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 102(1)(b).

(8) Standing Order 99 shall not apply to this Seanad.

SCHEDULE

	(1)	(2)	(3)
	Committee	Department/s	Number of members
1	Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade	Foreign Affairs and Trade	6
2	Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform	FinancePublic Expenditure and Reform	6
3	Select Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education	Jobs, Enterprise and InnovationSocial ProtectionEducation and Skills	6
4	Select Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht	Environment, Community and Local GovernmentTransport, Tourism and SportArts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht	6
5	Select Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture	Communications, Energy and Natural ResourcesAgriculture, Marine and Food	6
6	Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality	Justice and Equality Defence	5
7	Select Committee on Health and Children	HealthChildren and Youth Affairs	7

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Maurice Cummins

I move:

(1) That a Select Committee, which shall be called the Select Committee on European Union Affairs, consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann, be appointed to consider such matters arising from—

(a) Ireland’s membership of the European Union, and

(b) Ireland’s adherence to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

as it may select and which are not referred to any other Committee.

(2) The Select Committee shall be joined with a Select Committee appointed by Dáil Éireann, to form the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs, which, without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), shall consider—

(a) the EU Commission’s strategic planning documents including the Commission Work Programme,

(b) cross-sectoral policy developments at European Union level,

(c) matters listed for consideration on the agenda for meetings of the General Affairs Council of Ministers and the outcome of such meetings,

(d) such regulations under the European Communities Acts 1972 to 2009 and other instruments made under statute and necessitated by the obligations of membership of the European Union as the Committee may select,

(e) notifications referred by the Seanad under Standing Order 102 (1)(a),

(f) notifications of proposals for the amendment of the Treaties received from the European Council pursuant to Article 48.2 of the Treaty on European Union,

(g) notifications of applications for membership of the European Union received from the European Council pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, and

(h) such other matters as may be referred to it by the Seanad from time to time.

(3) The Joint Committee shall report to both Houses of the Oireachtas on the operation of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002.

(4) The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Orders 71 (other than paragraph (2A) thereof), 101, 102(1)(a) and 103.

(5) The Joint Committee shall have the power to make recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (or Minister of State) on European Union matters.

(6) The following may attend meetings of the Joint Committee and take part in proceedings without having a right to vote or to move motions and amendments:

(a) Members of the European Parliament elected from constituencies in Ireland, including Northern Ireland,

(b) Members of the Irish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and

(c) at the invitation of the Committee, other Members of the European Parliament.

(7) The Joint Committee shall represent both Houses of the Oireachtas at the Conference of Community and European Affairs Committees of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) and shall report to both Houses of the Oireachtas thereon.

(8) The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Maurice Cummins

I move:

(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement to consider—

(a) issues arising from Ireland’s role as a signatory to the Good Friday Agreement,

(b) ongoing developments in the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and

(c) any proposals relating to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and such related matters as shall be referred to it by the Dáil and/or the Seanad from time to time,

and to report back to both Houses of the Oireachtas at least once a year.

(2) The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 71, other than paragraph (2A), (4A), (4B) and (6A) thereof.

(3) The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (or a member of the Government or Minister of State nominated in his or her stead) shall be an ex officio member of the Committee and shall be entitled to vote in proceedings.

(4) Members of the Westminster Parliament elected from constituencies in Northern Ireland may attend meetings of the Joint Committee and of its sub-Committees and may take part in proceedings without having a right to vote or to move motions and amendments.

(5) The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann.

Question put and agreed to.

Senator Maurice Cummins

I move:

(1) That a Select Committee consisting of 5 members of Seanad Éireann be appointed to be joined with a Select Committee to be appointed by Dáil Éireann to form the Joint Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions, to consider—

(a) the design of a petitions system for the Houses of the Oireachtas,

(b) the role and remit of the Joint Committee having regard to the Programme for Government, and

(c) any other related matters,

and to report back to both Houses of the Oireachtas with recommendations, including revised Orders of Reference for the Joint Committee, by 30th September, 2011.

(2) The Joint Committee shall have the powers defined in Standing Order 71, other than paragraph (2A), (4A), (4B) and (6A) thereof.

(3) The Chairman of the Joint Committee shall be a member of Dáil Éireann.

Question put and agreed to.