JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 13 Apr 2005

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

The draft minutes of the meeting of 6 April 2005 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. There are no matters arising.

We will now deal with correspondence. We have received an invitation to attend an OECD conference to be held in Paris on 2 and 3 May 2005. As the topic of the conference is more relevant to the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government, I propose that we note it and forward the invitation to the committee secretariat.

I have received a letter from Deputy Ned O'Keeffe on Tralee Beef and Lamb. At our last meeting we agreed that some members of the joint committee would meet the banks to discuss the issues involved on behalf of the creditors and report back to the committee.

Deputy Nolan

I propose that the Chairman be accompanied by one member from Fianna Fáil, Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, and perhaps Deputy Paul McGrath from Fine Gael.

Chairman

A delegation comprising Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, Deputy Paul McGrath and me would be more than sufficient to meet the banks and report back to the joint committee.

Senator O’Toole

Is Deputy Nolan referring to the local bank branches?

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

First, we will meet the local managers and then move to a higher level.

Senator O’Toole

I support that idea.

Chairman

The three members will meet to discuss the best way of approaching the matter.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

The two banks involved are Anglo-Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland.

Senator O’Toole

As there is no Kerry person on the delegation, I wish to add my name, if the Chairman is agreeable.

Chairman

Agreed.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

I support that proposal.

Senator O’Toole

I do not like the idea of Cork people dealing with Kerry business.

Chairman

The next item of correspondence is an e-mail from the German Embassy requesting an exact meeting time for a visiting German committee on 9 June. As the Dáil is not due to sit that week, I would be concerned that we would not have a quorum. I suggest, therefore, we hold an informal meeting. I will be available during the early afternoon, between to 2 p.m and 3 p.m. to meet the six German Members of Parliament.

Deputy N. O’Keeffe

I suggest we hold a formal meeting which would look better in the eyes of the delegation. There will be no scarcity of items for the agenda.

Chairman

The clerk will confirm the time the joint committee will meet in formal session on 9 June 2005. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We have received an invitation to attend an EPKI knowledge workshop which is not relevant to our work. As members of the Joint Committee of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources have attended the workshop previously, I suggest we forward the invitation to that committee.