Do members agree that we express that disappointment in a letter requesting him to appear before the committee? Agreed.
No. 2010/954 relates to the invitation to the ICLEI 20th Anniversary Congress on the Future of Cities to be held in Korea from 5-7 October 2010. As the time scale for making arrangements is very short, I suggest it is impractical to consider attending the congress. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next matter on the agenda is Mr. McNamara's apology to Mr. Stephen Faughnan of the IPOA, which was sent by e-mail. The apology relates to a letter dated 2 July 2009 that was sent to the committee. We will note that. In addition, we have received further correspondence in relation to the IPOA. We have been sent a letter and appendices informing us that this matter has been dealt with by way of apology and damages in favour of the IPOA. We will note that.
The next correspondence is an e-mail notification of the 97th annual conference of the AMAI, which took place between 9 and 11 September last in Buncrana, County Donegal. We will note that.
The committee has received a reply to its queries regarding the financial ability of local authorities to implement the water services investment programme 2010-12. We will note that. Further replies are awaited.
Hard copies of the 2009 annual report and accounts of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority have been circulated to members. We will note the report and accounts. Perhaps members would like to discuss them at a future meeting.
The committee has received the 62nd annual report of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna. Hard copies of the Library Council report, which pertains to 2009, have been circulated to members. We will note the report. In addition, the first annual report on the public lending remuneration scheme, which was prepared by public lending remuneration section of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna and relates to 2009, has been circulated. We will note that.
The next correspondence relates to the suggestion that hotels and guesthouses cannot afford to pay the local authority rates that are payable by them. We will deal with this subject later in today's meeting.
A copy of InBusiness magazine, which is published by Chambers Ireland, is available from the committee secretariat. We will note that.
On the issue of payments to turf cutters affected by the cessation of activity on designated raised bogs, we have received a response to our request for a "softly, softly" approach to the cessation of turf cutting on such bogs. We will deal with the matter when we reach further correspondence on it.
As part of the formulation of a strategy statement for An Bord Pleanála, we have been asked to respond to the request for observations and feedback on the role, performance and service of the board by 24 September 2010. It should be noted that members should respond directly to the board.
We have received a request for access to copies of the presentations made to the committee prior to the compilation of the severe weather report. The request relates to the documentation submitted by the ESB, and so on, when the committee examined the severe weather events of last winter. Is it agreed to release the documentation, but also to inform those who made the presentations as a courtesy? Agreed.
