Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Business of Committee

Chairman

As the Bill has now completed Committee Stage, it is recommended that the members submit Report Stage amendments to the Bills Office without delay as the Report Stage debate may be tabled at short notice.

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Kyne and his officials for his briefing in the past week and being present today.

May I again remind members that the Report Stage may be ordered at short notice, so it is recommended that the Report Stage amendments be submitted to the Bills Office as soon as possible.

Deputy Brian Stanley

Broadly speaking, the people from all sides of the House welcome this substantial Bill which consolidates the existing legislation. There has been talk that legislation is not moving. It is a credit to the officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to bring this legislation forward. We dealt with a Bill with 251 sections.

There are areas that we can improve on during Report Stage, for example on the implementation, environmental protection, the position of local authorities and Revenue to the State. The Bill has been in gestation since 2015 and I hope we can proceed to the remaining Stages in the next couple of weeks.

I commend the officials on the detailed work that has been done on this Bill. We are now progressing this important legislation.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

I too commend the Minister and his officials on getting a long-awaited Bill through Committee Stage. I have one question, which I meant to ask earlier. Will somebody explain the difference between a mineral compound versus a mineral? I was particularly interested in this in respect of the amendment to the Tax Consolidation Act 1997.

I would like to have a layman's understanding of the difference between a mineral compound and a mineral. Are there particular applications to which it might apply to? Is that the case or it is just a technical amendment per se?

Chairman

The Minister might revert to the committee with a written brief, if it is not available.

Deputy Seán Kyne

It is a technical issue so I do not have a specific answer.

Deputy Eamon Ryan

It is just a small quirky thing but I would be happy if the Department were to contact me before Report Stage.

Deputy Seán Kyne

I join with members in complimenting the staff in the Department on the work on this Bill for a long number of years. In fact it is about ten years in gestation through a number of successive Governments. While we are not there yet, there will be a number of amendments tabled on Report Stage. I understand it will be June before we will be in a position to take Report Stage.

Deputy Brian Stanley

Is the Minister talking of a timeframe of three or four weeks?

Deputy Seán Kyne

It will certainly not be within two weeks.

Deputy James Lawless

When will the amendments need to be tabled for Report Stage?

Chairman

Four days prior to taking Report Stage.

Deputy James Lawless

Will we be notified of that?

Chairman

The Bills Office will notify members.

Deputy Seán Kyne

The Department is dealing with two other Bills.

Deputy Brian Stanley

There are hundreds of emails coming in and sometimes the emails fly by. Would the Department be able to tip off the offices of the party spokespersons?

Chairman

We can ask the Bills Office to do that. I thank the Minister of State, his officials and members for their presence today.

The select committee adjourned at 3.30 p.m. sine die.