We have received apologies from Deputies James Bannon and Johnny Brady and Senator Ciaran Cannon.
The minutes of the meeting on 9 September have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising? No. We now move on to correspondence received by the joint committee and circulated since our last meeting. The first item is No. 221 of 2008, a letter seeking the views of the committee on the annual output statement from the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service, which includes a list of possible issues and questions for comment. Do members wish to comment? They may prefer to read the letter in detail and give a response at our next meeting. We will hold the letter over — although we have done so before — in view of the upcoming budget. The letter refers to various things on which we may be clearer at our next meeting.
The next item is the newsletter from GLOBE Europe. We will note this. The next item is a letter from the Irish Agrément Board, following our last meeting with that organisation, which includes a list of 29 certified waste water treatment systems which we requested. We will note this and decide at the next meeting whether we want to do a report on the issue of waste water treatment.
The next item is in connection with the Mayo county development plan. We had correspondence at the last meeting from councillors who were not happy with the ministerial directive, and they asked for an opportunity to make a submission to our committee. We have agreed to have such a meeting in due course and we will set a date. At the last meeting I asked the secretariat to obtain a copy of the directive so we would know what we were talking about. This has now arrived in the form of document No. 224. We will note this and hold it for the meeting with the councillors. In addition, I will ask the clerk to obtain further information to be supplied to the committee in advance of that meeting, namely, documents from the Department and Mayo County Council.
When the draft plan went on display initially, the Minister made a submission to Mayo County Council. We want a copy of that submission and a copy of the county manager's report which will detail what he said when he reported to the council on the Minister's submission. We also want a copy of the amendments made to the draft plan. When these, in turn, were displayed in public, the Minister commented again on the plan and a subsequent manager's report issued. I want to see what was said in each case. In respect of submissions from the Minister and others, I want to see a copy of the council minutes so we can see what way the debate went. We can then judge if the decision was made by members or proposed by the executive. The final set of minutes will show the manner in which the plan was adopted.
At that stage we will have a proper file showing the chronology of events. When we meet the councillors from County Mayo, we will be in an informed position. I do not want us to talk with them blind. When a group comes to the Houses, I want there to be an informed discussion rather than one that proceeds with questions from the top of our heads, without any substance. We shall set a suitable date to meet the councillors and in the meantime I want the documentation to be supplied to all members. We need it in order to have a proper debate. Is that agreed? Agreed.
On item No. 225, the Oireachtas communications unit offers to meet the joint committee to discuss media relations in respect of the various committees, ours in particular, and how these can be improved. We will agree to meet the unit at a suitable time.
Item No. 226 concerns the European Environment Policy Conference to be held in Maastricht on 23 and 24 October on policy making in Brussels. It will examine the role and procedures of groups and committees of the Environment Directorate-General, the council of working groups and the environment committee of the European Parliament. Are any members interested in attending? Deputy Bannon has asked to attend and I ask the two convenors to liaise with him.
Item No. 227 is a letter from the Chief Fire Officers Association. The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government acknowledges the committee's request to be kept up to date on developments regarding the fire tragedy in Bray last year. Members may have seen recent newspaper coverage about this issue. We note the letter and will observe developments.
The next matter is the Tidy Towns annual report which is available to members and which we will note.
I remind members of an e-mail received yesterday from the inter-parliamentary section of the Houses of the Oireachtas concerning Mr. Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Executive, from the United States. He will meet the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, and the Ceann Comhairle on Thursday, 9 October and has asked to meet some members of the joint committee at 11.30 a.m. on that day. I will ask the two convenors, Government and Opposition, to make sure that at least one representative from each side will be available. Most of us will be present in the House at that time. Is that agreed? Agreed.