I will now take nominations for Chairman.
Election of Chairman.
Clerk to the Committee
I propose Deputy Bell.
I second the nomination.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations Deputy Bell is elected.
Chairman
They say I have been promoted from convenor of the Joint Committee on Social Affairs to Chairman of this committee but I do not know whether it is promotion or not — we will find out in due course. I thank the members of the committee for electing me as Chairman. I appreciate the honour and look forward to the co-operation of all in chairing a productive committee which will efficiently discharge the remit entrusted to it by the House.
I wish to advise the Committee that Deputies Sheehan and Hugh Byrne have been nominated as convenors to the committee. I look forward to working with them and I am sure I will have their full co-operation.
I wish to express my congratulations to the Chairman on his election; that it was unanimous speaks for itself. Is it the intention to appoint a vice-chairman?
Chairman
I am in the committee's hands on that matter. Traditionally, if the Chairman has been absent one of the convenors would take the Chair. Any member can be elected to take the Chair in the absence of the Chairman.
I nominate Deputy Nolan as the person from our party to stand in the absence of the Chairman.
Chairman
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I would like to propose Deputy Sheehan as acting chairman.
If Deputy Hugh Byrne is not able to be here as convenor perhaps Deputy Nolan could take his place?
Chairman
In other words, that he would act in the absence of the convenors. I will try to be here for every meeting to avoid any complications, but in my absence Deputies Sheehan, Hugh Byrne or Nolan in that order will take the Chair. Is that agreed? Agreed.
In the event of that happening, I nominate Deputy Broughan to be convenor.
Chairman
The convenor would move to the Chair and Deputy Broughan on the Government side would be convenor, Deputy Hugh Byrne would move to the Chair on the Opposition side and Deputy Nolan would be the convenor. Is that agreed? Agreed.
A copy of the terms of reference has been circulated. I know many Members have not had a chance to study them but I could not circulate them until after the election of a Chairman. Members also have a memo with regard to the staffing arrangements. I welcome the two experienced members of the staff and I look forward to working with them.
The following Bills were referred to this committee and have yet to be completed: Consumer Credit Bill, 1994; Casual Trading Bill, 1994 and Competition (Amendment) Bill, 1994. Eleven meetings have been held on the Consumer Credit Bill, 1994 and it is proposed that we meet on Wednesday, 22 March at 3 p.m. and the following Tuesday, 28 March, at 3 p.m. to complete Committee Stage of that Bill. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Rabbitte, has indicated that he is available at these times. Is that agreed?
We agree the arrangements for next week. I was responsible for the Bill when I was Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment. Obviously, one cannot please everybody, but we tried as far as possible to accommodate the main spokespersons of the various parties in dealing with the Bill. While I will be free next week I will not be free the following Tuesday.
Chairman
We will try to facilitate the Deputy.
I do not want to make a problem for next week but, as it happens, another committee of which I am a member and Chairman is meeting at 4 p.m. next Wednesday. I had understood that the committee staffs had been making an effort to avoid such clashes of meetings. If I cannot be at the meeting I sure the committee will limp along without me without the slightest difficulty. However, it would be desirable to avoid overlapping.
Chairman
Not only have rules changed in relation to substitution, but on the Government side the Standing Orders now provide that there can be cross party substitution — but only on the Government side.
Obviously.
I agree with Deputy Dukes. As some members are on several different committees we must try to avoid committee meetings overlapping or clashing. Will it be the intention of this committee when meeting in the future to have a regular time? On the two occasions mentioned is it just because the Minister of State is available? In trying to plan and not have committee meetings clashing so that members can attend it is important if establishing a regular date and time that it does not clash with another committee.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body is meeting in Dublin. I do not know how many members of this committee are members of that body but it might cause difficulties.
Chairman
I appreciate that but I cannot go any further than make a provisional arrangement for meetings. I suggested to Deputy Sheehan that we should meet on a Thursday at a fixed time each week. We would need to meet almost every week. Unfortunately, we were advised that the Minister of State was not available on the Thursday and that is why it was brought forward to Wednesday. I am told that the Minister of State has changed his schedule to be here on Wednesday.
I suggest we meet on Wednesday.
Chairman
I anticipated it would be better to have a time and location which would not clash with other committee meetings and I tried to arrange that. I will have to speak to the co-ordinator of the committees to work out a schedule which will not clash and I undertake to do that as soon as possible.
That is acceptable. Since the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is available on the next two Wednesdays we should schedule meetings for those dates but for the future I hope we can schedule the meetings of this committee for Thursday and set a specific time.
Chairman
I was about to suggest that we fix a regular day and time and adhere to it as far as possible. The problem is that unless we get the co-operation of the appropriate Ministers we do not have much choice.
To be fair to the Ministers, we would have their co-operation but they might not be available.
Chairman
That is the problem. We will try to arrange meetings for Thursdays. Is 11 a.m. suitable? Shall I ask the convenors to make the necessary arrangements for that time?
The Committee of Public Accounts meet at 11 a.m. every Thursday by tradition.
I suggest we meet next week and at that time sort out the matter. The Minister will be present and we will have a better idea then.
Chairman
Yes. In the meantime I will have a chance to make arrangements. I do not know what times are available. Meeting rooms are another problem. In conjunction with the staff and the convenors I will endeavour to arrange that by next Wednesday. Is that agreed? Agreed. Notification will be sent out; we could not send it until after today's meeting.
The other matter already referred to this committee is the Glacken report. An interim report was adopted by the committee on this issue. Some assistance has been given by Government Departments to date and a paper from the Revenue Commissioners is still awaited. Because of recent changes in the terms of reference of this committee we now have the power to call persons, and request papers and records, which will facilitate progress in consideration of the issues. There have been a number of changes.
Members have received a memorandum and, perhaps, they will examine it between now and our next meeting. We may devote a short time to discussing and interpreting this document, which is fairly extensive. I thank the staff for preparing the memorandum. I thank Members for their attendance and look forward to their co-operation next Wednesday.
The Select Committee adjourned at 10.15 a.m.