We will bring forward a proposal for discussion at the next meeting.
The committee has received correspondence from the Department of Finance on Statutory Instruments Nos. 79 and 84 of 2005. These have been identified and circulated to members. Under its orders of reference, the committee has the power to consider such statutory instruments made by the Minister of Finance and lay them before the Houses as it may select.
Statutory Instrument No. 63 of 2005 proposes to amend the European Communities (Distance Marketing of Consumer Financial Services) Regulations 2004 in order to clarify the position on services provided by intermediaries, enforceability of contracts to which the regulations apply and the fraudulent use of payment cards in connection with contracts for financial services.
Statutory Instrument No. 13 of 2005 gives effect to the provision of Directive No. 2002/92/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 9 December 2002. The regulations require insurance intermediaries to register with the competent authority — the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland — and fulfil the professional requirements set down. Conditions are also laid down for the information with which clients of insurance intermediaries must be supplied. The powers of the competent authority, as well as the offences for non-compliance with the regulations, are also set down.
Statutory Instrument No. 123 of 2005 provides for the commencement date of section 98A of the Finance Act 1999 as inserted by section 50 of the Finance Act 2004. The section provides for the Revenue Commissioners to allow qualified and conditional relief from mineral oil tax on biofuel used in approved pilot projects for either the production of biofuel or the testing of the technical viability of biofuels for use as motor fuel. Is it agreed that the committee does not wish to consider the statutory instruments and merely wishes to note them? Agreed.
The next item is EU scrutiny. The Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny of the Joint Committee on European Affairs has sent this committee a list of documents and proposals it considered and decisions it took at its meeting on 9 March. Members will note that no proposals were referred to this committee. Is it agreed that none of the proposals considered by the sub-committee on 9 March warrants scrutiny by the committee? Agreed.
The next item of correspondence is No. 0082, which is a reply from the Minister regarding the value of uncashed bank drafts. A revised reply has been received from IFSRA in response to a point raised by Deputy Timmins at our meeting on 20 May 2004 regarding the value of uncashed bank drafts in the banking system. I propose we note the letter and send a copy to Deputy Timmins. Is that agreed? Agreed. The clerk has been contacted by an official of the dormant accounts unit at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs seeking a copy of this revised letter. Is it agreed to forward a copy of it to the official in question? Agreed.
The next item is travel proposals. The Ceann Comhairle has forwarded to the committee an invitation from the European Parliament seeking a delegation of a maximum of four members to attend a meeting of the Temporary Committee on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Means of the Enlarged Union 2007-13 to be held in Brussels on 4 and 5 April 2005. Is it agreed that the committee should be represented at this debate? Agreed. In view of the timeframe involved, will the conveners nominate members to attend the meeting today? Is it agreed that two members from the Government side and two from the Opposition side should attend? Agreed. I ask the convenors to notify the secretariat to the committee of the names of those members who will attend. This must be done today, particularly if travel arrangements are to be made before Easter. The individual groups should discuss the matter and notify the secretariat of their decisions during the day. If the names are not supplied today, there will be difficulties making arrangements.
The rules governing committee travel require that any proposal for travel by a committee must be directly and explicitly linked to an area of work in which the committee has decided to become involved pursuant to its orders of reference and in the context of its work programme. We are also required to state the reasons the travel is considered necessary. I suggest that as the mandate of the temporary committee is to define the European Parliament's negotiating position in the debate on the next financial prospective, it is important that a delegation should attend to improve our understanding of the means to be allocated by the EU in the future. In addition, our draft work programme prioritises economic development and it is necessary for the committee to interact and share ideas with other policymakers and experts whose views can help inform our consideration of matters within our remit. Is it agreed that is the reason for the visit? Agreed. The reason for the destination is self-evident.
Is it agreed that, given the short distance involved, economy class travel, subject to fares being fully refundable, is practical and reasonable? Agreed. Is it agreed that an allocation from the travel budget of up to €800 per member be sought from the working group of committee chairmen? Agreed. The clerk will make the necessary arrangements.
A questionnaire was attached to the invitation to visit Brussels on 25 April regarding European economic policy in national and European perspectives. At our last meeting it was agreed that the reply to the questionnaire, which had been completed by the Department of Finance at my request, be sent to the committee for their views. As there was not time to do so before the initial meeting this was done subsequent to the last meeting and without observations being made or additions requested on behalf of the committee. It was not specifically prepared on behalf of the committee and took the view that a document prepared by the Minister for Finance would have the support of the majority of the Parliament, which was the reason I took this route. Is it agreed that we formally approve that as the submission on behalf of the Parliament? Agreed.
The two topics on our agenda today involve discussions on the expenditure review initiative and with the Irish Farmers' Association. I wish to deal with two other issues beforehand. The draft work programme for 2005 has been circulated and includes all matters for consideration by this committee. Standing Orders require the committee to prepare a work programme that will be laid before the House. That programme has been circulated and discussed on a number of occasions. The paragraphs that follow the introduction describe work that originated outside the committee but was referred here and which may affect the rate at which the committee works through the list of issues chosen for examination. The list of issues carries forward matters selected for examination last year and which the committee may wish to pursue in 2005. This is the second version of the draft programme and has been updated to include our work to date this year. Additions are always possible and will inevitably occur.