27 Beal 2014, 12:25
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD will tomorrow appear separately before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss the upcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting.
27 May 2014
The Committee will have the opportunity to feed into Ireland’s approach to the agenda, which includes progressing the Fourth Railways Package and the single telecoms market.
Chairman of the Committee John O’Mahony TD says: “Our Committee has an important oversight role on the Government’s interaction with the European Union on policy related to the Departments of Transport, Tourism and Sport as well as Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. We will engage with Ministers Varadkar and Rabbitte on the approach they propose to take at the forthcoming Council, which takes place in Luxembourg on 5 and 6 June.
\"The Council will consider the EU's Fourth Railway Package, which seeks to deliver better quality and more choice in railway services across Europe, and the Committee will seek to establish any implications for Irish Rail. The engagement with Minister Varadkar is also expected to consider an EU directive on maximum weights and dimensions for vehicles. Meanwhile, Minister's Rabbitte's presence will allow the Committee engage with on the Connected Continent package, which will provide for citizens and businesses to connect without cross-border restrictions or unjustified additional costs. It will be an opportunity for the Committee to feed into Irish Government policymaking on Europe in these important areas for citizens.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 28 May at 9:30 am in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. Public session is expected to commence at 10 am with engagement with Minister Varadkar, followed by a discussion with Minister Rabbitte at 11 am. Public proceedings can be viewed here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
ENDS
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Committee on Transport and Communications
Deputies: John O’Mahony (Chair), Paudie Coffey (Vice-Chair), Michael Colreavy, Timmy Dooley, Dessie Ellis, Tom Fleming, Brendan Griffin, Noel Harrington, Seán Kenny, Éamonn Maloney, Helen McEntee, Michael Moynihan, Patrick O’Donovan, Ann Phelan and Mick Wallace
Senators: Sean D. Barrett, Terry Brennan, Éamonn Coghlan, Paschal Mooney, Ned O’Sullivan and John Whelan