asked the Taoiseach 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 is involved; and if the committees have produced or will produce a written report on their work.
Written Answers. - Inter-Departmental Committee.
412.
This Department have a number of inter-Departmental committees under its aegis as follows:—
1. Inter-Departmental Committee on National Security — This committee comprises representatives of the Departments of Justice, Defence, the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, and the Houses of the Oireachtas and other Departments and Offices as appropriate. The committee, which considers matters of national security, was established in 1974 following an Inquiry into State security by Mr. Justice T. A. Finlay. The chairmanship and secretariat are provided by the Department of the Taoiseach. The committee meets as necessary and appropriate and its proceedings are not published.
2. Inter-Departmental Committee on Emergency Preparations — This committee comprises representatives of all Departments and has responsibilities in relation to the co-ordination of Departmental plans to meet any emergency situations that may arise. The chairmanship and secretariat are provided by the Department of the Taoiseach. The committee has been meeting as necessary since 1979. Its proceedings are not published.
3. Inter-Departmental Committee to consider proposals to commemorate the Bicentenary of Grattan's Parliament and the Dungannon Convention — This committee comprised representatives of the Departments of Education, Foreign Affairs, Defence and the Commissioners of Public Works. The committee were appointed in November of 1980 and have now terminated their work.
4. Inter-Departmental Committee on Hydrography — This committee comprises representatives of the Departments of Fisheries, Defence, Transport, Energy, Environment, the Office of Public Works. It is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. The purpose of the committee is to formulate the strategy for the implementation of a more extensive hydrographic survey programme. The committee were appointed on 8 May 1980 and hope to complete their work shortly.
Officers of the Department also participate in other inter-Departmental committees which will be covered in the replies of Ministers, under whose Departments' aegis these committees operate.