Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 March 2004
147 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the interdepartmental committees on which members of his Department sit and attend; the date upon which such committees were set up; the role and remit of such interdepartmental committees; the person to whom each interdepartmental committee reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8139/04]
View answerOfficials from my Department are involved in a large number of committees and advisory and working groups dealing with a range of issues and including members from other Departments as well as individuals from non-governmental organisations. In the table, I have included those interdepartmental committees whose principal activities come under the remit of this Department and whose membership is in the main confined to representatives from other Departments.
| Name of Interdepartmental Committee | Date Committee founded | Role and Remit of Committee | Person to Whom Each Committee Reports |
| Working Group on Speed Cameras | December, 2003 | To examine the scope of Garda speed detection process. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
| Interdepartmental Committee to oversee Piloting and Maintenance of Garda Helicopter | 20 November, 2001. | To contract out the piloting and maintenance of the helicopter for a trial period. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
| Monitoring Committee on the 3% Target for the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Public Service. | March, 1999 | To monitor and guide progress towards achievement of the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
| National Child-care Co-ordinating Committee. | December, 1999 | To oversee the development of an integrated child-care infrastructure and provide a forum for the development of child-care policy. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform |
| Programme Appraisal Committee, Equal Opportunities Child-care Programme 2000-2006 | August, 2000 | To assess grant applications under the Programme and make recommendations to the Minister in relation to applications for funding. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
| National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women | December, 1997 | To provide a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, and cohesive response to female victims of violence. | Minister of State at Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
| Interdepartmental Group on Asylum and Immigration Issues | May, 2003 | To enhance co-operation between Departments and gardaí on asylum and immigration matters. | To both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Minister for Social Community and Family Affairs. |
| Committee to Monitor and Co-ordinate the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. | June 1998 | To co-ordinate and monitor the recommendations on the Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community and to serve as a forum for consultation on national issues concerning Travellers. | Progress report is submitted to Government periodically. |
| Working Group on Equality Proofing. | November, 1998 | To develop administrative procedures for equality proofing. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
| National Development Plan/Community Support Framework Equal Opportunities and Social Inclusion Co-ordinating Committee. | 14 March, 2001 | To secure the maximum application of commitments on equal opportunities, particularly gender equality, and social inclusion across the National Development Plan. | The Committee reports to the National Development Plan/Community Support Framework Monitoring Committee. |
| Cross Departmental Group on Immigration. | April, 2001. | To give the Departments concerned with the issue an input into the development of immigration policy to identify issues requiring a cross-Departmental approach which need to be catered for in comprehensive new immigration legislation in fulfilment of the Government’s commitment in this regard and to consider how to address them. | Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. |
