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First time for Minister to address Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht ahead of European meeting

7 Noll 2011, 17:49

Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar, TD, will address the Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht tomorrow, Thursday, 8th December on the transport issues to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council.

The key issues which will be addressed at the meeting are -
 The Directive establishing a single European railway area aimed at simplifying and modernising the rules for the railway sector, increasing competition and improving conditions for investment
 A Directive on the minimum level of training of seafarers
 The Revision of the guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network which is aimed at achieving smarter and more sustainable transport systems
 A Regulation on recording equipment in road transport (tachograph)
The Minister will also brief the Committee on the future of transport policy in the EU as set out in the EU Commission's White Paper, ‘Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area –Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system’.

Committee Chairman Ciarán Lynch, TD said: “This is the first time that the Minister will address the Committee ahead of a European Council meeting and we appreciate his appearance before the Committee to brief members on the Council agenda items. Oireachtas Committees play a key role in ensuring that EU legislation, proposals and policies are properly scrutinised and examined.

A very important aspect of this work is consideration of the approach taken by Government Ministers to matters for discussion and decision at meetings of the EU Council of Ministers. Such meetings offer a valuable opportunity to hold the government to account and are a key factor in strengthening Oireachtas oversight of EU matters.”

This meeting will take place on Thursday, 8th December, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 10am.

Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies:

Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
 
Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Coghlan, Independent

 


 

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