JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Dec 2002

Vol. 1 No. 1

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

I wish to deal with one further item before we conclude. At the last meeting, our inaugural meeting on 13 November, although documents had been circulated in connection with the Oireachtas scrutiny of EU business, we did not manage to discuss the issue. From now on the joint committee will have an important role to play in scrutinising EU draft legislative proposals pertaining to the Department it shadows, as per the European Union Scrutiny Act, 2002. A sub-committee has been established to advise on whether proposals should be scrutinised. Members have received a briefing note which contains further details.

Report and Final Stages of the National Finance Agency Bill are being taken in the Dáil and Opposition spokespersons are——

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

Is there a copy of the note in my file?

Chairman

No, I am reading it. As Opposition spokespersons are in the Dáil Chamber, I do not propose to proceed any further with the discussion on the scrutiny issue until the next meeting in January. Having regard to the numbers present and the length of time the joint committee has been in session this morning, I propose to schedule the matter for discussion at its next meeting in mid-January. A meeting of the select committee will also have to be arranged to deal with legislation. Given that Opposition spokespersons are not present, I will ask the clerk to communicate with them and convenors to arrange dates for meetings in mid-January.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

Representatives of many organisations will want to discuss matters with the joint committee. We could deal with the backlog in January. We met this morning at 9.30 a.m. and had to go to the Dáil for a vote. We could offload a good deal of work in January when we could meet two days a week for four weeks as there is nothing else on. That would not be too hard for us. We could meet eight days in January.

Chairman

Following the 12 days of Christmas, we will schedule meetings of the joint committee and the select committee, as a number of non-contentious Bills have been referred to us which we should deal with before the Dáil resumes. That point is agreed. I do not want to set dates for meetings in the absence of Opposition spokespersons who are in the Dáil. I will ask the clerk to communicate with them with a view to having——

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

Has the Chairman received submissions or requests from other organisations such as the credit union movement to meet the joint committee?

Chairman

No, but we have to deal with the matter of the scrutiny of EU legislation and agree our work programme for the coming year. We have enough business to discuss in January as well as Committee Stage of a number of Bills.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

I give the Chairman permission to deal with any work outstanding provided we have plenty of work to do in January——

Chairman

We have.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

——which would leave us with less work to deal with in February and March.

Deputy C. Lenihan

A letter could be sent to the Minister recommending that he take account of the ethos of the credit union movement.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

No.

Deputy C. Lenihan

A note could be sent to the Minister to the effect that we have heard the views of its representatives and that we hope he will take note of their concerns about these developments.

Chairman

Representatives of the Irish League of Credit Unions are due to meet the Minister on Monday. I think that serves the purpose.

Deputy C. Lenihan

Yes.

Chairman

We have heard their views and will discuss the matter again when dealing with amendments on Committee Stage of the Bill.

Deputy C. Lenihan

Yes.

Chairman

This will be recorded in the minutes.

Deputy C. Lenihan

We could pass on the minutes.

Chairman

The minutes and the submission received from the Irish League of Credit Unions will be available.

The joint committee adjourned at 12.20 p.m. sine die.