Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals
Chairman:   Two EU legislative proposals for decision are listed on Schedule A, while three are listed on Schedule B. A total of 17 early warning notices are also listed for noting by the committee. I propose that we deal with the Schedule B items first.
It is proposed that the proposals listed on Schedule B - COM (2013) 142, COM (2013) 143 and COM (2013) 152, do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed. It is also proposed that the committee note the 17 early warning notices listed on Schedule B. Is that agreed? Agreed.
There are two proposals listed on Schedule A. COM (2013) 207 is a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC on the disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups. The proposal relates to the corporate governance of large companies. Its purpose is to increase the relevance, consistency and comparability of non-financial information published by companies across the European Union, the objective being to improve companies' transparency and performance on environmental and social matters and thereby contribute to long-term economic growth and employment. The Department has indicated that this proposal will have limited application in Ireland and that no subsidiarity issues arise. However, as it will involve extra reporting obligations on large companies and the Department has yet to formally engage with stakeholders on the issue, it is proposed that the committee engage directly with stakeholders by seeking submissions from interested parties on the proposal via its website. Is that agreed? Agreed. This is an important issue. We can decide later if we want to proceed further and have a round-table discussion on the proposal.
COM (2013) 237 is a proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No. 1344/2011 suspending the autonomous common customs tariff duties on certain agricultural, fishery and industrial products. On 21 May the committee requested that an advice note be drafted on this proposal which was listed as a Schedule B item. The proposal relates to a duty suspension scheme operated by the European Union which allows operators in the Union to apply for a suspension of duty on imported raw materials. Based on the advice note provided and our discussion thereon, it is proposed that the proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
South-East Economic Development Strategy Report: Discussion
Chairman: We will move on to our next item of business, a discussion with representatives of the local authorities, chambers of commerce and community enterprises in the south east on the south-east economic development strategy report being prepared by Senator David Cullinane. I welcome all of our guests to our discussion on the report into which Senator David Cullinane has put a great deal of work in the past few months. He has carried out many interviews and engaged with many stakeholders, but before we finalise the report, it is important that we have a chance to discuss some of the issues involved with our guests. We have set aside today to discuss all of the options, suggestions and areas in which we can make improvements. The committee is anxious to ensure the report will help in pulling together existing reports and information and, apart from adding a critique, add new suggestions and value to them.
I welcome to our first session Mr. Joe Crockett, Kilkenny county manager; Ms Nora Widgre, president, Waterford Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Michael Walsh, Waterford city manager; and Mr. Senan Cooke, Dunhill Community Enterprises. All of our guests are very welcome, but I extend a special welcome to Mr. Crockett. We had him in County Meath when I was first elected to the local authority and I am delighted that he is here as part of the group.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I call on Mr. Crockett to make his presentation.
Mr. Joe Crockett: I thank the Chairman and members of the committee for focusing on the south east and for the work that has been done so far by the rapporteur, Senator David Cullinane. I will briefly go through the presentation I forwarded to the committee. I only want to talk about three issues and will leave the rest of the presentation as a written document, if that is in order.
Chairman: That is fine.
Mr. Joe Crockett: The three issues are the top three bullet points set out in the presentation, namely, policy and economic development, the importance of third level education and research, and farming and agribusiness. If members have questions about the rest of the presentation, I can address them.
On how the region should perform, in 2010 Kilkenny County Council started to examine how we might develop an economic model for ourselves. In examining the issue of economic development the key elements to be considered are what the State is trying to do, what its main economic policies are and where the competitive advantages it sees for itself lie at national level. One then works down through regional economic policy, as identified by Forfás which has been the most active agency in dealing with this issue. It has produced the regional competitiveness agendas, while the council has produced its own economic development strategy which focuses on the issues I mentioned, namely, third level education and research, tourism, agribusiness and so on.
A new regional economic model is being prepared by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. We do not know what its shape will be, but there is a need for an alignment between the three levels, namely, national, regional and local. If there was policy and objectives harmonisation between all of the enterprise agencies involved, there would be a greater focus and better spend by everybody. That would be very helpful, not only to the south-east region but to all regions.
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