PUBLIC AFFAIRS IRELAND NEWSLETTER Your essential weekly guide to legislative, regulatory and public affairs in Ireland Issue 262 February 11 2013

This week in the

The new Promissory Note arrangement will be discussed in the Dáil this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Phil Prendergast MEP will deliver an address to the Seanad entitled ‘The EU single market: expanding horizons for workers, consumers and business’. The Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee will meet this week to discuss trade promotion and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery.

Michael McNicholas appointed Chief Executive of Bord Gáis

Mr Michael McNicholas has been appointed establishment of Irish Water and the sale of as the Chief Executive Offi cer of Bord Gáis by Bord Gáis Energy”. She added: “I am confi dent the organisations Board. He will take up the that Michael will provide outstanding position by June 2013 for a seven year term. leadership in guiding the company into Mr McNicholas is currently the Chief Executive the next phase of its development.” Offi cer of NTR plc having joined the company Michael McNicholas himself in February 2010 as Chief Operating Offi cer. acknowledged the changes occurring at He was appointed CEO of NTR plc in June Bord Gáis stressing that he is “committed 2011 following a short period as Deputy CEO. to ensuring that Bord Gáis and Irish Prior to joining NTR plc, he was CEO of ESB Water deliver a fi rst class service to International, the international investment arm our customers and meet the needs of of the Irish energy company. Mr McNicholas our community and our shareholder.” has over 25 years of experience in the Irish and In April 2012, the Government announced International energy industry and has a Degree that it will create a publicly owned national in Engineering from University College Galway. water authority within the Bord Gáis Group He is a Chartered Member of Engineers Ireland to manage and improve the delivery of and a Committee Member of the Energy Institute. Michael McNicholas will assume the role water and wastewater in Ireland. Irish Water Rose Hynes, Chairman of Bord Gáis welcomed of CEO of Bord Gáis in June 2013 will replace the current system in which the appointment and highlighted that “Bord Gáis public water and wastewater services are is undergoing a signifi cant transformation with the delivered by 34 city and county councils.

Appointments to the board of the National Council for Special Education

The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD has announced Joan Russell, Nominee of IVEA; Pat Kinsella, nominee of NAPD; new appointments to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). and James O’Grady, nominee of Minister for Health and Children. Mr Eamonn Stack has been appointed as Chairman of the Council. The NCSE, established in 2003, is a Statutory Body with the structure Additionally the following appointments to the Council of the NCSE and functions set out in the Education for Persons with Special have also been made: Seán Ó Murchú, nominee of Minister for Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004. These functions include: planning Education and Skills; Prof Mark Morgan, nominee of Minister for for, and co-ordinating, the provision of education for children with special Education and Skills; Philip O’Callaghan, nominee of Minister for educational needs and ensuring that a continuum of special educational Education and Skills; Maureen Costello, nominee of Minister for provision is available; conducting and carrying out research; providing Education and Skills; Jenny Ennis, nominee of Minister for Education policy advice to the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to special and Skills; Eithne Fitzgerald, nominee of National Disability Authority; education; and disseminating information, including best practice, on Michael Coughlan, nominee of National Disability Authority; Mary Friel, special education to parents, schools and other interested persons. nominee of TUI; Helen Guinan, nominee of the CPSMA/NABMSE;

Public Affairs Ireland Tel: 01 8198500 25 Mountjoy Fax: 01 8944733 Square East E: [email protected] Dublin 1 www.publicaffairsireland.com twitter.com/publicaffairsir Remit of Science Foundation Ireland to be extended if Bill passed

The Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) application to the State, and therefore any funding to research Bill 2012, the Bill which will extend the remit of Science Foundation projects based outside the State is not open to SFI at this point. Ireland (SFI) reached second stage in the Seanad last week. The proposed legislation will also enable SFI, subject to the This Bill provides for the extension of SFI’s remit to enable it consent of the Minister, to enter cost-share arrangements with to fund applied research, in addition to continuing to fund top- international partners in areas linked to its mandated priority class oriented basic research and to take the outcome of research areas and where Irish researchers have real potential to achieve funded closer to market. The purpose of the Bill is also to re-align added value from such arrangements. This will enhance Irish the priority areas of funding by the Foundation in accordance with based researchers capability to leverage greater levels of the National Research Prioritisation Exercise, 2012. Additionally, the funding from other research funding sources from across Europe. Bill will provide SFI with the legal power to fund research projects in Northern Ireland and, subject to the consent of the Minister, participate in collaborative funding schemes with other countries. The existing 2003 legislation, the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2003, is limited in its territorial

Committee Meetings In the next issue of the PAI Journal In the next issue of the Public Affairs Ireland Journal, Jennifer Stack speaks of the Croke Park Agreement; and Sinead Keenan of Healthy to Chief Executive of Pobal, Denis Leamy, about the day to day running Food for All examines the issue of food poverty in Ireland and asks of the organisation and how the recession has impacted upon its work. what can be done to tackle obesity among low income families. The issue also features articles from Louise O’Mahony, Senior To read these articles and more, see the January/February Manager with the Irish Banking Federation, who looks at how banks edition of the Public Affairs Ireland Journal which will be sent to all are supporting customers with mortgage repayment diffi culties; Tom subscribers next week. If your organisation is a subscriber and you Courtney of Arthur Cox provides a comprehensive review of the newly wish to receive the Journal, contact [email protected]. published Companies Bill; General Secretary of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants, Dave Thomas responds to criticism

Oireachtas Schedule: Week beginning February 11

Dáil

February 12 February 13 February 14 2pm 10.30am 10.30am Questions (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Leaders Questions Leaders Questions the Marine) 10.51am 10.51am 3.15pm Order of Business Order of Business Leaders Questions Statements re European Council (to conclude Motion on Promissory Note Arrangement 3.36pm within 85 minutes) (working title) resumed (to conclude at 3.42pm Questions (Taoiseach) if not previously concluded) Motion on Promissory Note Arrangement 4.36pm (working title) resumed 3.42pm Order of Business Topical Issues 1.30pm 5.06pm SOS 4.30pm Topical Issues Questions (Minister for Communications, 2.30pm Energy and Natural Resources) Motion re PQ Rota Change (Department of Questions (Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Equality and Department of Arts, Affairs) Heritage and the Gaeltacht) 3.45pm Motions re EU Readmission Agreements Topical issues (referral to Committee) (without Debate) (Department of Justice and Equality) 7.30pm Private Members Business Motion on Promissory Note Arrangement (working title)

7.30pm Private Members Business Oireachtas Schedule: Week beginning February 11 continued Seanad February 12 February 13 February 14 2.30pm 10.30am 10.30am Order of Business Order of Business Order of Business Motion regarding Opt-In under Article 4 of Motion regarding continuation in force of Section the Twenty First Protocol to the Treaty on 11.45am 17A inserted by section2(1) Diseases of Animals the Functioning of the European Union to the “The EU single market: expanding horizons for workers, consumers and (Amendment) Act 2001 (No.3 of 2001) of the Readmission Agreements with the Governments business” Diseases of Animals Act 1066 (No. 6 of 1966) of Macao, Sri Lanka, Albania, Russia, Former [Address to Seanad Éireann by Phil Prendergast MEP] - without debate Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia, Spokesperson Senators /M. Mullins. Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, Pakistan and Spokesperson Senator . Georgia- Referral to Committee without debate. 2.30pm [Department of Justice and Equality] Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) (Amendment) Bill 11.45am 2012 – Committee Stage Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Spokesperson Senator . [Minister of State for Research and Innovation] Immunity) Bill 2012 – Committee and Remaining Spokesperson Senator Deirdre Clune Stages 3.45pm [Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence] Taxi Regulation Bill – Committee Stage 4.15pm [Minister of State for Public and Commuter Childcare (Amendment) Bill 2013 - All Stages Spokesperson Senator Transport] [Minister for Children and Youth Affairs] Spokesperson Senator Spokesperson Senator Pat O’Neill 5.30pm Private Members Business [Independent Senators – Taoiseach’s Nominees]- Motion Sale of the National Lottery

Spokesperson Senator Tom Sheahan Committee Meetings February 12 February13 February 14 1.30pm 9.30 am 9.30am Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Transport and Communications Agriculture, Food and the Marine Committee Room 2, Leinster Committee Room 4, Leinster House Committee Room 4, Leinster House House AGENDA: AGENDA: AGENDA: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (i) Engagement with Mr. Matt Dempsey, Chairman (i) Scrutiny of EU Legislative Designate, Irish National Stud Proposals - COM(2012)15, 12 noon (ii) Engagement with Mr. Joe Keeling, Chairman COM(2012)372, COM(2012)709 Members’ Interests of Seanad Éireann Designate, Horse Racing Ireland and COM(2012)725 Committee Room 1, Leinster House (ii) The Rural Challenge - AGENDA: 9.30a Empowering Rural Communities to Private Meeting Health and Children Achieve Growth and Sustainability. Committee Room 2, Leinster House [Minister for the Environment, 1pm AGENDA: Community and Local Education and Social Protection (i) Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposal: Government] Committee Room 3, Leinster House COM(2012)788 AGENDA: (ii)Tackling Obesity [Operation Transformation] 2.15pm Digital Literacy [Department of Education and Skills] Environment, Culture and the 10am Gaeltacht 2.30pm Transport and Communications Committee Room 4, Leinster Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee Room 3, Leinster House House Committee Room 1, Leinster House AGENDA: AGENDA: AGENDA: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Representatives from (i) Scrutiny of EU Legislative (i) Trade promotion and the role of the Department of Foreign Tiománaí Tacsaí na hÉireann] Proposals – COM(2012)393, Affairs and Trade in economic recovery [Chambers Ireland] COM(2012)394, COM(2012)577, (ii) Motion re. the Peace Process in Colombia [Deputy Seán COM(2012)643 and Crowe] COM(2012)651 2pm (ii) Diffi culties encountered by Justice, Defence and Equality farmers on the issue of fl ooding Committee Room 2, Leinster House [Representatives of the Irish AGENDA: Farmers Association] Private Meeting

3.30pm 3.15 pm Agriculture, Food and the Penal Reform (Joint sub-Committee) Marine Committee Room 2, Leinster House Committee Room 3, Leinster AGENDA: House Private Meeting AGENDA: (i) Use of commonage 4pm lands and proposals to Public Service Oversight and Petitions ensure good agricultural and Committee Room 3, Leinster House environmental practices on farms AGENDA: [Representatives from Teagasc] 1. Private Meeting (4pm) (ii) The development of a new 2. Public Meeting (5pm) agri-environment scheme for the Irish uplands under the 5.30pm Rural Development Programme Public Petitions received [Joint Sub-Committee on Public Petitions]

Dáil Reform (Sub-Committee) Room 2, Leinster House. AGENDA: Private Meeting Public Affairs Ireland Conference A New Future for Local Government in Ireland Will the Government’s reform proposals for local government deliver better services?

WEDNESDAY 13 MARCH, THE WESTIN HOTEL, DUBLIN, 9am - 1pm KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Phil Hogan TD, Minister for Environment, Community & Local Government

In October 2012, the Government published Putting People First, an action programme for effective local government. Pointing out that local government structures have not been updated since the 19th century the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Topics Include: described the action programme as “the most fundamental set of changes in local government in the history of the State”. • What are the Government’s priorities The Government Putting People First is designed to secure more effective democratic for the reform of Local arrangements that will improve effi ciency and provide better value for money for the Irish public. One of the measures in the action programme that has attracted considerable public Government? comment is the proposal to reduce the number of both councillors and local/regional authorities across Ireland. Other proposed reforms include the proposed establishment of a New National • How is Local Oversight and Audit Commission, as well as a strengthening of the Local Authority Audit Government responding Committees. There are also increased roles envisaged for local government in the area of to increased pressures economic development and the promotion of local community. for efficiency, lower revenues and increased To address these changes Public Affairs Ireland is holding a half-day conference on Wednesday demands? 13 March 2013 on A New Future for Local Government in Ireland. The conference will address the issues raised by Putting People First and hear from arrange of perspectives including Central Government, Local Authority elected members, Local Authority management and users • Will the reforms of local services. The conference will also be addressed by the Chair of the Government body strengthen the role and charged with oversight of effi ciencies in Local Government as well as a leading economist with function of councillors? a particular expertise in locally driven community development initiatives. Confi rmed speakers and conference facilitators include; • Are there new models for service delivery at • Phil Hogan TD, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government local level? • Pat McLoughlin, Chair, Local Government Effi ciency Implementation Group • Owen Keegan, Manager, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council • Has the Croke Park • Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick, Dublin City Council • Dr. John O’Dowd, HR specialist Agreement facilitated • Jim Power, Economist change at Local • Avine McNally, Small Firms Association Authorities? • Andrew Buggy, HR Solutions Director at Capita • Anne O’Keefe, former Director, OLAM (Session 1 Chair) • Senator Paul Coghlan, Government Chief Whip, Seanad Eireann (Session 2 Chair)

This will be a constructive, focused half-day conference that will be of interest to people working in local government throughout Ireland, including both offi cials and elected Sponsored by: members. The conference will also be of interest to people with signifi cant interaction with Local Authorities, including service providers, local agencies or service users.

www.publicaffairsireland.com