asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the composition, purpose, date of appointment and frequency of meetings of each inter-departmental committee in which his Department are involved; and if the committees have produced or will produce a written report on their work.
Written Answers. - Inter-Departmental Committees.
447.
My Department have primary responsibility for three inter-departmental committees. The details are as follows:
Name: (a) Inter-Departmental Committee on Development Co-operation; (b) European Communities Committee; (c) Inter-Departmental Committee on Co-operation Agreements.
Composition: (a) Departments of Foreign Affairs, the Taoiseach, Finance, Agriculture, Justice, Transport, Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Social Welfare, the Environment, Labour, the Public Service, Education and Defence; (b) Secretaries of the following Departments: Departments of Foreign Affairs, the Taoiseach, Finance, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Industry and Energy, Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Labour and Transport. In addition, other Departments from time to time participate when matters pertaining to their areas of responsibilities are under discussion. (c) The committee is open to representatives of all interested Government Departments.
Purpose: (a) To ensure the maximum co-ordination between the Government Departments whose areas of responsibility are affected by development co-operation policies; (b) To co-ordinate on major issues of importance in the Communities; (c) It was set up on the basis of Government decision to enter into bilateral Government to Government arrangements on co-operation with other countries (especially with State-trading and oil producing countries) in the fields of economic, industrial scientific and technological co-operation.
Date of appointment: (a) The committee was established pursuant to a Government decision of 25 April 1979; (b) The committee originated with the Inter-Departmental Secretaries Committee established in 1970 to oversee co-ordination of negotiations on our accession to the Communities; (c) 17 September 1975.
Frequency of meetings: (a) The committee meets twice or three times a year on average; (b) Once a month or more frequently if required; (c) Once a month or more frequently if required.
Reports: Reports are not normally produced by these committees.