Environment Committee to meet Chairperson designates of Údarás na Gaeltachta and Western Development Commission

Established in 1980, Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. The overall objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure that Irish remains the main communal language of the Gaeltacht and is passed on to future generations by funding and fostering a wide range of enterprise development and job creation initiatives and by supporting strategic language, cultural and community based activities.

The Western Development Commission is the statutory body promoting economic and social development in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare by ensuring that government policy is directed at improving the social and economic situation in the region.
It is also responsible for developing projects in tourism, industry, marine, renewable energy, technology and organic agri-food and operating the €32 million Western Investment Fund to provide loans and equity to business and local communities in the West.

Leas chathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Noel Coonan, TD said: “Under the Programme for Government, those who are being proposed for appointment as chairpersons of State boards are required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee. The meeting tomorrow with Anna Ní Ghallchóir and Paddy McGuinness will allow the Committee consider the approach they propose to take as Chairpersons of their respective organisations and discuss their views about their priorities.

“The Committee does not have a blocking role in the appointments and following the discussion tomorrow, decisions will be taken by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate, to confirm Mr Ms Ní Ghallachóir and Mr McGuinness as chairpersons.”

This meeting will start in Committee Room 4, Leinster House at 4.15pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 27th November 2012.

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

Media enquiries to:

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

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie

Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht

Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD;  Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).

Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).