PUBLIC AFFAIRS IRELAND NEWSLETTER Your essential weekly guide to legislative, regulatory and public affairs in Ireland

Issue 234 June 8 2012

Next week in the Oireachtas

In the Dáil next week, the Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 will be discussed at Second Stage on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the Seanad, statements will be heard regarding the Seanad Report on the Rights of Older Persons. The Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade will meet with President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Mr John Bryan, on Wednesday to discuss trade promotion and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in economic recovery.

News & Appointments

Government’s Intellectual Property Protocol announced As part of commitments made in the Programme for Government and the Action businesses and researchers; generous commercial terms, to encourage Plan for Jobs 2012, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard businesses to engage with researchers; and finally, improved management of Bruton TD, and the Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, Intellectual Property. have published the Government’s Intellectual Property Protocol. According to the Ministers, the Protocol will make it easier to create commercial products In developing the national IP policy the Government was assisted by the IP and services from the results of publicly-funded Research & Development. Implementation Group, chaired by Dr Jim Mountjoy, Founder of Euristix, Member of Science Foundation Ireland Board, and the IP Policy Group, Ireland’s substantial expertise in the area of scientific research and innovation chaired by Martin Shanagher, Assistant Secretary, DJEI and Chair of has earned it an excellent international reputation: Ireland was ranked 20th in Interdepartmental Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation. the world for quality of scientific research output in 2010. The newly launch IP Protocol aims to improve Ireland’s commercial outcomes from this activity, According to Minister Bruton the Protocol ‘marks a major evolution of the with Minister Bruton maintaining: ‘[it] will encourage more multinationals relationship between industry and publicly-funded research [and] will create and indigenous companies to use the IP generated by Irish R&D to create a world-class new system that will make it easier and faster for entrepreneurs products and services and ultimately create more jobs’. and companies to negotiate a commercial arrangement with researchers’.

The measures rolled out with the Protocol will see the establishment of: a new This is an ongoing project and ‘will continue to evolve to ensure that it delivers Central Technology Transfer Office (cTTO), ‘a one-stop shop for businesses on its objectives and is aligned with the objectives of the State in respect of seeking to use intellectual property deriving from publicly-funded research’; its research funding’. standardised intellectual property terms, to facilitate agreements between

Members of Shannon restructuring Steering Group announced The composition of the Steering Group charged with bringing forward proposals The Group will oversee the work of two Task Forces: an Aviation Business on the restructuring of the State Airports and Shannon Development has been Development Task Force and a Change Management Task Force. The former announced by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD, is to be chaired by Rose Hynes, current Chair of Bord Gáis Eireann and a and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD. former member of the senior management team of Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) and of the boards of Aer Lingus Teo and Shannon Airport Authority. The Group was set up following the Government’s decision to ‘separate The latter will be chaired by John Fitzgerald, former City Manager and Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and bring it current chair of the National Transport Authority, An Post and the Limerick together with Shannon Development to form a new entity with a commercial Regeneration Project. mandate in public ownership ’. According to the press release, the duties of the Group are to bring forward The Steering Group will be jointly chaired by Mr Tom O’Mahony and Mr proposals for: the separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA; the transfer of John Murphy, Secretary General at the Department of Transport, Tourism Shannon Development’s functions to Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the IDA; and and Sport and Secretary General at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and the transfer of Shannon Development’s tourism functions to Fáilte Ireland. It Innovation, respectively. It will also be comprised of senior officials from is also charged with reviewing and assessing the DAA plan for the operational the aforementioned Departments as well as the Departments of Finance, and financial readiness of the DAA Group in a post separation scenario, as Public Expenditure and Reform, and Environment, Community and Local well as exploring options and preparing proposals for the formation of the new Government. entity of Shannon Airport and Shannon Development.

Public Affairs Tel: 01 8198500 Ireland Fax: 01 8944733 25 Mountjoy E: [email protected] Square East www.publicaffairsireland.com Dublin 1 twitter.com/publicaffairsir News & Appointments NAMA appoints Chief Financial Officer The National Asset Management Agency has appointed Donal Rooney as the portfolio management and asset recovery divisions at NAMA in May Chief Financial Officer. 2010.

Mr Rooney is a graduate of University College Dublin and on finishing his Mr Rooney’s appointment comes following a review of NAMA by former degree worked for Arthur Anderson from 1997 until 2002. He then held the HSBC banker Michael Geoghegan last year, which recommended that that a role of Director in the Audit and Advisory division at KPMG for over 7 years chief financial officer be appointed to ease the workload of chief executive before joining Brendan McDonagh.

Government nominates judge Revenue Chairwoman’s term extended The Government has nominated Colm MacEochaidh SC for appointment by Chairwoman of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily, has had the President as a judge of the High Court. her term of appointment extended by one year. She will now serve a six- year- term, having assumed the role of Chairwoman in March 2008. Mr MacEochaidh, who is an expert of planning law, public law and general commercial law, will fill the vacancy on the High Court left by Mr Justice According to a Government spokesman, the decision was taken as a result John MacMenamin, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in February of Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the European Union which beings of this year. in January of next year. He explained that as the presidency will involve a number of tax matters, the experience of the current Chairwoman is A UCD and King’s Inns graduate, Mr MacEochaidh was first called to the bar favourable. in 1987 and became a senior counsel in 2009. He is a council member of the Irish unit of anti-corruption, non-governmental organisation Transparency Ms Feehily, who joined Revenue in 1993, is a graduate of the National International and a former member of the council of An Taisce. College of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. She has enjoyed a long career as a public servant, having previously worked in the Department of The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Social and Family Affairs and the Pensions Board. She has also served as a Higgins of the nomination in accordance with constitutional procedure. member of the Labour Relations Commission.

Public Affairs Ireland Conference A New Era for Data Protection in Ireland Speakers Wednesday June 13 2012, 9am - 1pm Westin Hotel, Dublin Billy Hawkes, Irish Data Protection Commissioner Public Affairs Ireland is organising a special conference in Dublin on 13 June 2012. The Conference will feature the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, as the keynote speaker and will also hear contributions from a Paul Nemitz, European range of expert speakers that will address the EU, legal, regulatory and technical Commission issues concerning the operation and reform of Data Protection rules in Ireland.

Dr. Robert Griffin, EMC The conference agenda will address topics including: •Data Protection and the delivery of public services •Data sharing and outsourcing Paul Lavery, McCann •National regulation with international impacts Fitzgerald •Data Protection and Cloud Computing •Pending EU reforms on Data Protection Mark Farrell, Arcline •Dealing with the consequences of a breach in data security

This will be a highly relevant and topical conference that should be at- Billy Murphy, Drury tended by representatives of any organisation or agency involved in the col- Communications lection, storage or processing of personal data in Ireland. The conference will tackle the practical issues that arise for data controllers at present and Annette Hogan, McCann look forward to reforms that are being advanced by the EU Commission. Fitzgerald

Click here to register online

For more information, please click here or call us on 01 8198500

Education and Training Events in Public Affairs Ireland Public Affairs Ireland provides a range of training courses and CPD seminars on public affairs and regulatory matters. Both our training courses and CPD seminars are taught by leading experts in each relevant discipline, who bring a sharp practical focus to our events. Please click here for a list of upcoming events. Next week in the Oireachtas Dáil Seanad June 12 June 13 June 14 June 12 June 13 2.00pm 10.30am 4.33pm 10.30am 2.30pm 10.30am Questions (Minister for Social Leaders Questions Morning business continued Leaders Questions Order of Business Order of Business Protection) Motions regarding (i) 11.45am - 1.30pm 10.51am 6.25pm 10.51am Restructuring of Sectoral 3.15pm Order of Business Statements re Common Order of Business Committees and transfer of Statements on the Leaders Questions Fisheries Policy Reform (to papers to new Committees Seanad Report on the Motion re Renewal of Certain conclude within 65 minutes) Motion re Proposal for a Directive and (ii) Joint Administration Rights of Older Persons 3.36pm Provisions of the Offences (Department of Agriculture, on the freezing and confiscating of Committee – without debate [Minister of State with Questions () against the State Act (to Food and the Marine) proceeds of Crime in the European Motion regarding the responsibility for Disability, conclude within 45 minutes) Union (back from Committee) establishment of a Joint Older People, Equality & 4.36pm (Department of Justice and 7.30pm (without debate)(Department of Committee on Standing Mental Health] Order of Business Equality) Private Members Business Justice and Equality) Orders (Private Business) – without debate 3pm – 5pm Topical Issues Motion re Criminal Justice Motion re Aarhus Convention (back Criminal Justice (Spent Amendment Act 2009 (to from Committee) (without Debate) 3.45pm Convictions) Bill 2012 PQ Rota Changes (Departments conclude within 45 minutes) (Department of the Environment Criminal Justice – Second Stage of Children and Youth Affairs (Department of Justice and Community and Local Government) (Withholding Information [Minister for Justice, and Education and Skills) Equality) Against Children and Equality and Defence] (without Debate) European Arrest Warrant Vulnerable Persons) Bill Companies (Amendment) (Application to Third Countries 2012 - Committee Stage PQ Rota Changes (Departments Bill 2012 (Seanad) and Amendment) and Extradition [Minister for Justice, 5pm - 7pm of the Environment Community Second Stage (Resumed) (Amendment) Bill 2011 Second Equality and Defence] Private Members and Local Government and (Department of Jobs Stage (Resumed) (Department of Business Health) (without Debate) Enterprise and Innovation) Justice and Equality Business Undertakings (Disclosure of Motion re Changes in Standing Residential Institutions Statutory Overpayments) Bill 2012 Orders (without Debate) Residential Institutions Fund Bill 2012 Second Stage – Second Stage Statutory Fund Bill 2012 (Resumed) (Department of Revised Estimates (back from Second Stage (Resumed) Education and Skills) Committee) (without Debate) (Department of Education and Skills) Electoral (Amendment) (Political Veterinary Practice Funding) Bill 2011 (Seanad) Second June 14 (Amendment) Bill 2011 (1 European Arrest Warrant Stage resumed (Department of the Amendment from the Seanad) (Application to Third Environment, Community and Local 10.30am 2.30pm Countries and Amendment) Government) Order of Business Statements on the Companies (Amendment) Bill and Extradition (Amendment) outcome of the 2012 (Seanad) Second Stage Bill 2011 Second Stage Construction Contracts Bill 2010 11.45am – 1pm Referendum on the (Department of Jobs Enterprise (Resumed) (Department of (Seanad) Second Stage (Resumed) Competition (Amendment) proposal for the and Innovation) Justice and Equality) (Department of Public Expenditure Bill 2012 – Report and amendment of the and Reform) Final Stages Constitution contained in 7.30pm 1.30pm [Minister for Jobs, the Thirtieth Amendment Private Members Business SOS 3.42pm Enterprise and Innovation] of the Constitution Topical Issues (Treaty on Stability, 2.30pm 1pm - 2.30pm Coordination and Questions (Minister for Public 4.30pm Statements on the Governance in the Expenditure & Reform) Questions (Minister for Agriculture, Euroscience Open Forum Economic and Monetary Food and the Marine) 2012 Union) Bill 2012 3.45pm [Minister of State for [Seanad Members] Topical issues Research and Innovation]

Committee Meetings

June 12 June 13 June 14 2 pm (Amendment) Bill 2011 9.30 am [Officials from the Department of 10 am Affairs] Committee Room 3, Leinster [Minister for the Environment, Committee Room 3, Leinster Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Committee Room 1, House Community and Local House Mr John Bryan, President of the Leinster House 11.30 am Communications, Natural Government] Jobs, Social Protection and Irish Farmers’ Association] Public Accounts Committee Room 2, Resources and Agriculture Education AGENDA: Leinster House AGENDA: 2.30 pm AGENDA: 4 pm (i) Business of the Health and Children Private Meeting Committee Room 1, Leinster (i) The forthcoming Employment, Committee Room 4, Leinster Committee; AGENDA: House Social Policy, Health and House (ii) Special Report No.77 Update on Health Issues 2 pm Health and Children Consumer Affairs Council Finance, Public Expenditure of the Comptroller and [Minister for Health; Committee Room 2, Leinster AGENDA: (EPSCO) [Minister for Jobs, and Reform Auditor General: Dublin Minister of State with House Draft Heads of Children First Enterprise and Innovation]; AGENDA: Docklands Development special responsibility for Finance, Public Expenditure Bill 2012 (resumed) (ii) Unemployment and Youth Draft Heads of the General Authority; and Primary Care; Minister and Reform [Ms Emily Logan, Ombudsman Unemployment (resumed) Scheme of Protected Disclosures (iii) Dublin Docklands of State, Department of AGENDA: for Children] [Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and in the Public Interest Bill 2012 Development Authority: Health and Department Draft Heads of the General Innovation] (resumed) [Mr Brendan Butler, 2011 Annual Report & of Justice, Equality and Scheme of Protected IBEC; and Mr. John Devitt Financial Statements Defence with responsibility Disclosures in the Public Transparency International [Ms Loretta Lambkin, for Disability, Equality, Interest Bill 2012 (resumed) [Mr 2 pm Ireland] Chief Executive, Dublin Mental Health and Older Kenan Furlong, Partner, A&L Committee Room 4, Leinster Docklands Development People; and Mr Cathal Goodbody; and Mr Eugene House Authority] Magee, Chief Executive McErlean, former AIB internal Environment, Transport, Officer, Health Service auditor] Culture and the Gaeltacht 11 am Executive] AGENDA: Committee Room 4, 2.15 pm Private Meeting Leinster House Committee Room 4, Leinster Finance (Sub- House 2 pm Committee) Environment, Community Committee Room 2, Leinster AGENDA: and Local Government (Sub- House European Stability Committee) Justice, Defence and Equality Mechanism Bill 2012 AGENDA: AGENDA: [Minister for Finance] (i) Motion regarding Ratification Survivors of Symphysiotomy of the Aarhus Convention, the 11.30 am Amendment to the Aarhus 2.30 pm Committee Room 3, Convention on Genetically Committee Room 1, Leinster Leinster House Modified Organisms (GMO) House European Union Affairs and the Protocol to the Aarhus Foreign Affairs and Trade AGENDA: Convention on the Pollutant AGENDA: European Communities Release and Transfer Registers Trade promotion and the role of (Amendment) Bill 2012 (PRTRs); the Department of Foreign Affairs [Minister of State with Public Affairs Ireland provides a range of training courses and CPD seminars on public affairs and regulatory matters. Both our training courses and CPD (ii) Dormant Accounts and Trade in economic recovery responsibility for European seminars are taught by leading experts in each relevant discipline, who bring a sharp practical focus to our events. Please click here for a list of upcoming events. To view an updated daily Oireachtas schedule visit www.publicaffairsireland.com/news