Item 1.21 concerns COM (2004) 558. The proposal which is technical in nature concerns a regulation establishing certain concessions for the Swiss Confederation in the form of Community tariffs for certain processed agricultural products. It is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.22, COM (2004) 566, concerns a proposed decision on the Community position on the adaptation, following enlargement of the European Union, of Annexes 1 and 2 to the agreement between the Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products. The note indicates that the Department of Agriculture and Food has been consulted and that the proposal holds no implications for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.23 concerns SEC (2004) 1018, the preliminary draft amending budget No. 10 for 2004. The memorandum for this proposal sets out the process to date in the establishment and operation of the European Data Protection Office. The budget for its operation in 2004 was based on outline estimates. According to the Commission's proposal, this needs to be amended in response to a request from the Office of the Data Commissioner for additional resources. I understand that at the time the initial estimates were agreed it had been anticipated that the Data Commissioner would actually be seeking additional resources. This would be particularly the case if the operations of the office had advanced as much as they have. It is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.24, COM (2004) 463, is a proposed regulation on common rules for imports of certain textile products from third countries. The committee has on a number of occasions since the recent enlargement of the European Union considered a number of proposals that have sought to change the quantitative restrictions in place to take account of the enlarged market. This proposal adjusts the limits in place on imports of textiles from Vietnam, which adjustments are based on an average of the trade flows in the years 2000 to 2002. The Department's note indicates that the adoption of the proposal would result in no difficulties for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
It is proposed that the following two proposals be taken together: item 1.25, COM (2004) 482, and item 1.26, COM (2004) 483. They concern the conclusion of an agreement with the Republic of Moldova on the establishment of a system for double-checking documentation concerning trade in steel products and the administrative procedures of this system. Members will see that the Department's note indicates that its consultation process has resulted in its concluding that the adoption of the proposal would hold no difficulties for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that they do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next two items, COM (2004) 510 and COM (2004) 511, are also related. It is proposed that they be taken together. They concern amendments to the agreements with Romania and Bulgaria and take account of recent institutional developments such as EMU and the expiry of the European Coal and Steel Community and include additional trade liberalisation measures. It is proposed that they do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.29, COM (2004) 513, concerns a proposed regulation on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Department's note indicates that its consultation process has resulted in its concluding that the adoption of the proposal would hold no difficulties for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.30, COM (2004) 514, also concerns the conclusion of an agreement with Kazakhstan on trade in certain steel products. The Department has indicated that its consultation process has resulted in its concluding that the adoption of the proposal would hold no difficulties for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.31, COM (2004) 522, concerns a proposed decision on the conclusion of an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway on Protocol 2 to the bilateral free trade agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway. The Department's note indicates that the Departments of Agriculture and Food and Health and Children have been consulted and that the adoption of the proposal would hold no implications for Ireland. It is proposed, therefore, that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Item 1.32, COM (2004) 548, is a recommendation for a Council decision on the opening of negotiations on an agreement concerning monetary relations with the principality of Andorra. This recommendation from the Commission that the Council should decide to open negotiations with Andorra follows that country's intention to apply the provisions of Directive 2003/48/EC on the application of taxation on savings. The directive was most recently considered by the committee at its meeting on 22 July this year and provides for the savings income of non-residents to be subject to effective taxation through the sharing of information or the application of a withholding tax. The negotiations will primarily concern the conditions for the issuing of euro coins by Andorra — as a quid pro quo, I presume. It is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I understand the issuing of euro coins by small states such as Andorra, the Vatican, Liechtenstein and Monaco is quite a lucrative business.