Under Standing Orders, the committee is obliged to prepare an annual report and work programme. As members can see, the work programme for this year is being incorporated into the annual report for 2003. Have members any comments or suggestions for inclusion in the work programme? We can amend or change it during the year, if necessary.
Business of Joint Committee.
I propose that we work with the programme presented to us.
We have to agree the annual report first. Is that agreed? Agreed. The annual report will be laid before both Houses.
Members have been forwarded notes on a number of documents that have been considered by the sub-committee on EU scrutiny. These documents can be categorised in three ways. First, there are documents that have been referred to this committee where further scrutiny is proposed; second, there are documents where the committee is the main committee involved but no further scrutinies are recommended; and last, documents where this committee's attention has been drawn to the fact that the document has been considered and is being dealt with elsewhere.
I propose to deal with the documents in these categories. The first list is under the heading "Lead Committee and referred for scrutiny". I suggest that because of the content and implications of the coming into force of these six documents the joint committee agree to further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The second group is "Lead Department and no further scrutiny advised" and the five documents in this category do not have the same impact as those referred to previously. Therefore, I suggest as a committee that we acknowledge their receipt and note them. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The third group, under the heading "Second Committee - advice for information purposes" does not impact on the activities of this committee. They are being considered by other Oireachtas committees. Therefore, I suggest that we acknowledge their receipt and note them. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The joint committee agreed at its last meeting to write to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following a newspaper article that highlighted decisions not to appeal certain planning applications on heritage grounds. The reply from the Secretary General of the Department has been forwarded to members. We will acknowledge and note the reply.
I wish to remind Deputies that the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003 will be considered by the select committee tomorrow, starting at 11.45 a.m. I do not expect it will take too long. The select committee commenced its consideration of the Residential Tenancies Bill on 21 January. Is it agreed that we resume consideration of the Bill next Wednesday morning, 11 February, and on Thursday, 12 February? Agreed.
As we may not finish the Bill next week, can we agree dates for the following week? Provisionally, I suggest Tuesday, 17 February. Members have also been given an updated list of correspondence received and I also received correspondence from a colleague which will be considered. I remind members to indicate the items of interest to them and to return this request to the committee secretariat. Is there any other business?
On the guidelines for one-off rural housing, is there any news of when the directive to local authorities will be issued by the Minister?
We have no official information but the indication is that it is due very shortly.
Would it be possible to bring it before this committee for discussion?
It would. It would be best to allow them to be published before we consider them. It is an issue that we have dealt with and would be keen to deal with again.
Can the directive from the Minister be over-ruled?
We will see what is published.
I raise the question that Deputy McCormack asked. Can the Minister's order over-ride the county development plan?
It is a very specific question. The Minister has the power to propose legislation. The Minister has not made clear what he intends to do, whether he will simply publish guidelines or propose something stronger.
Regardless of county development plans, county managers and the planning authorities in each county are not granting planning permission for rural houses. It is as simple as that. They impede, oppose or refuse. In Killarney, at the Árd-Fheis, the Taoiseach said he would see to it that the building of rural houses would be allowed.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated that the Government would make accommodation for rural houses. There is no action at present and there is a complete clamp-down on rural or one-off houses.
As a committee, we have dealt with this in some detail. We had several interested groups in to speak to us and we asked them questions. We made our own recommendations and the Minister has indicated that he will make an announcement on that matter in the near future. Once the announcement is made, as a committee we can respond as we see fit.
Thank you, Chairman.
The Joint Committee adjourned at 14.42 sine die.