We are now in public session to consider the scrutiny of EU legislative proposals. All five proposals before us today concern the mobilisation of the European globalisation adjustment fund. The lead Department in all cases is the Department of Education and Skills, which is responsible for the operation of the fund. In all cases it is proposed that the proposals do not warrant further scrutiny.
Proposal COM (2011) 491 relates specifically to an application made by Portugal for funds from the European globalisation adjustment fund. This has been formally approved at EU level. This application has no implications for Ireland and it therefore does not warrant further scrutiny in our view. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposal COM (2011) 580 relates specifically to an application made by Greece for similar funds. This application has been formally approved at EU level and has no implications for Ireland, so it is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Proposals COM (2011) 617 to 619, inclusive, relate to the European globalisation adjustment fund. They provide additional support for workers suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market. It is funded from savings in the overall EU budget for the year and has a notional allocation of €500 million annually. The proposals relate specifically to applications made by Ireland to access that fund following redundancies in various sectors of the construction industry. These applications have been approved and funding received, but I do understand that members of the committee are interested in the general issue of the operation of the fund. We had planned to discuss this matter before Easter but there was a complication with the Department. This item is being rescheduled for discussion by the committee at a later date, probably during May. Questions relating to the operation of the fund may be put to the Department officials at that time. Is it agreed to defer discussion of those issues until May? Agreed. Is it agreed no further scrutiny of those proposals is necessary? Agreed.
We will suspend for a few minutes to allow the witnesses to take their places.