Environment Committee to meet Ministers to discuss allocations for 2013

Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael McCarthy, TD said: “As part of the Programme for Government 2011 and the Dáil reform programme, Committees now have the opportunity to examine Estimates on a whole-of-year basis, and our meeting tomorrow forms part of that initiative. This pre-budget engagement with the Ministers will provide committee members with a greater input into the budgetary process and is an important part of our work programme.

While the Ministers may not be in a position to give precise details on the 2013 estimates for the services they provide, we expect that they will give an outline of the savings to be made in departmental expenditure in 2013 and the impact on services as a result. Members will have a chance to consider the budgetary challenges facing the Ministers and to give their views on the form that any adjustments or savings should take.”

The Committee will also discuss the Report of the Pyrite Panel with Minister Hogan.

Deputy McCarthy said: “The Pyrite Report recommended the establishment of a resolution board which could be funded by a levy placed on the construction/quarrying and related insurance sectors. We are aware that the Minister has said that in the absence of a workable solution from the sectors, he would consider an imposed solution along the lines recommended in the Pyrite Report. Our meeting tomorrow with the Minister will enable members to get an update on the issues, raise any concerns they may have and ascertain what steps the Minister is now envisioning in relation to this very serious issue.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 2.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 13th November 2012.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

Media enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
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Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).