Weekly Newsletter Issue 432 Business for week beginning 06/02/17 Notice of Appointments Tuesday 31 January 2017 Denis Naughten TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, was given Government approval to appoint one person to the Board, and three people to the Statutory Committees of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). Ms Mary Curtis was appointed to the Board. Ms Curtis has previously held roles at RTÉ and UTV Ireland. She also spent six years on the Board of RTÉ. Prof. Kevin Rafter was appointed Chair of the BAI Compliance Committee. Prof. Rafter is a Professor of Political Communication at DCU. He previously worked as an editor in the media industry. Ms Eileen Maher was also appointed to the BAI Compliance Committee. Ms Maher’s past roles include Director of Strategy and External Affairs at Vodafone. She has vast experience in the telecoms industry. Ms Clodagh O’Donnell was appointed to the BAI Contract Awards Committee. Previous roles include Group Head of IT at RTÉ, and executive roles at Aer Lingus. Speaking at the appointment, Minister Naughten said that these candidates would “bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Authority and its Statutory Committees”. Fixed charge notice Bill reaches Second Stage On Tuesday and Wednesday, the members of the Dáil will discuss the Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016. Generally, the Bill relates to administrative processes for the production of summonses for those found in violation of certain road traffic Acts. When enacted, the Bill would allow for the electronic transfer of information needed to create a summons document. It would also provide for the issue of a fixed charge notice for summonses. Section 3 of the Bill also outlines the procedure that should be undertaken if the person alleged to have violated any roads Acts is a member of An Garda Síochána. You can read the Bill here. Dáil will debate US Immigrant ban On Thursday, the Dáil will discuss the Executive Order on Immigration recently signed by new US President, Trump. A three-hour slot has been allocated for members of the House to speak on the topic. Last week, Michael Martin TD, Leader of the opposition, brought the issue to the floor in a question to An Taoiseach. Deputy Martin called for Mr Kenny to publicly decry the Executive Order as “morally wrong” as it contravenes the Geneva Convention. For further information on the Debate on this matter that took place during Leaders’ Questions on Tuesday 31 January, click here. At Public Affairs Ireland On the Blog 2009 Working Group on Court Reform: A Missed Opportunity? Michael Williams Read here Case Management and Talbot Michael Williams Read here Why bother with Regulatory Impact Assessment? Tom Ferris Read here Preparing for the new EU General Data Protection Regulation MB Donnelly of the ODPC Read here On Post-Brexit Data Transfers Read here Upcoming Training ILM Certificate in Leadership Level 6 Award 3 Days: Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 February Dublin During this three-day course, attendees will learn how their individual traits and characteristics can be best used when leading a team. Theory won’t just be read and forgotten, but put to practice in a hands-on approach to all manner of leadership scenarios. By the end of the course, participants will feel confident in leading people in a work environment. This course is led by Ashley Hughes, a training and development specialist with over fifteen years’ experience working in both academic education and management development arenas. For more information on Ashley, the course, or to book click here This week in Dáil Éireann Tuesday 7 February Wednesday 8 February 2.00 p.m. 12.00 p.m. Leaders’ Questions (FF, SF, LAB, RIG) (32 mins) Leaders’ Questions (FF, SF, LAB, AAA-PBP) (32 mins) 2.32 p.m. 12.30 p.m. Order of Business (30 mins) Questions on Promised Legislation (30 mins) 3.02 p.m. 1.02 p.m. Taoiseach’s Questions (45 mins) Taoiseach’s Questions (45 mins) 3.47 p.m. 1.47 p.m. P.Q.s: Oral - Minister for Communications, Climate Action and P.Q.s: Oral - Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (90 mins) Environment (90 mins) 3.17 p.m. 5.17 p.m. Topical Issues (48 mins) Topical Issues (48 mins) Private Notice Question (if any) Private Notice Question (if any) 4.05 p.m. 6.05 p.m. SOS (40 mins) Government Business: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages 4.45 p.m. resumed (Department of Justice and Equality) Private Members Business (Social Democrats – Green Party):- Media Ownership Bill 2017– Second Stage (120 mins) Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage (Department of Justice and Equality) (115 mins) 6.45 p.m. 8.00 p.m. Government Business (210 mins) Private Members Business (Fianna Fáil): Pensions (Amendment) (No. Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 - Report and Final Stages 2) Bill 2017 – Second Stage (120 mins) (resumed if not previously concluded) (Department of Justice and Equality) 10.00 p.m. Courts (No. 2) Bill 2016 - Second Stage resumed (Department of Dáil Adjourns Justice and Equality) Bail (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage (Department of Justice and Equality) 10.15 p.m. Dáil Adjourns Thursday 9 February 9.30 a.m. Recent US Executive Order on Immigration (180 mins) 12.30 p.m. Leaders’ Questions (FF, SF, I4C, SD-GP) (32 mins) 1.02 p.m. Questions on Promised Legislation (15 mins) 1.17 p.m. Government Business (43 minutes) Motion re. Psychoactive Drugs (back from Committee) (without debate) (Department of Health) Weekly divisions 2.00 p.m. Government Business (120 mins) National Famine Commemoration Day Bill 2017 - Second Stage – Colm Brophy (to conclude within 2 hours and 10 minutes (Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) 4.10 p.m. P.Q.s: Oral - Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (90 mins) 5.40 p.m. Topical Issues (48 mins) Private Notice Question (if any) 6.28 p.m. Committee Report/PMB: (120 mins) Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill 2017 – Second Stage 8.28 p.m. Dáil Adjournment This week in Seanad Éireann Tuesday 7 February Wednesday 8 February 2.30 p.m. 10.30 a.m. Commencement Matters Commencement Matters 3.30 p.m. 11.30 a.m. Order of Business Order of Business 4.45 p.m. 12.45 p.m. Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 – Committee Stage - Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2017 – Order for Second Stage and (Minister for Health) Second Stage (Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality) 3.00 p.m. Statements on Amendments to Councillors Conditions (Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government) 4.30 p.m. Private Members Business - Derelict and Vacant Sites Bill 2017 – Second Stage (Senators Grace O’Sullivan, Alice Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Frances Black, John Dolan, Collette Kelleher) Thursday 9 February 10.30 a.m. Commencement Matters 11.30 a.m. Order of Business Motion re opt Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council framework Decision 2004/757/ JHA of 25 October 2004 laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking, as regards the definition of drug – Back from Committee without debate 2.00 p.m. Statements on the Action Plan for Rural Development (Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) This week’s Committee Meetings Tuesday 7 February Wednesday 8 February Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Joint) Children and Youth Affairs (Joint) CR2, LH 2000 12 noon CR1, LH 2000 9 a.m. AGENDA: The proposed acquisition of CMNL Limited, formerly Celtic Media AGENDA: The Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS) Newspapers Limited, by INM plc (Independent News & Media Holdings Limited) Session A: [Officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; and [Representative from Independent News and Media; The Celtic Media Group Representatives from Pobal] and The National Union of Journalists.] Session B: [Representatives from Early Childhood Ireland; the Association of Future Funding of Domestic Water Services (Joint) Childhood Professionals; and the City and County Childcare Committees] CR4, LH 2000 12 noon AGENDA: Funding Domestic Water and Wastewater Services [Representatives Future of Healthcare (Select) from NewEra; Right2Water; Irish Water; National Federation of Group Water CR3, LH 2000 9 a.m. Schemes and the Commission for Energy Regulation] AGENDA: Private Meeting Future of Healthcare (Select) Justice and Equality (Joint) CR4, LH 2000 2.15 p.m. CR2, LH 2000 9 a.m. AGENDA: Private Meeting AGENDA: Prisons, Penal Policy and Sentencing [Irish Penal Reform Trust] (i) Labour Activation (resumed) [Dr. John Sweeney, Labour Market Council] Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Joint) CR1, LH 2000 4 p.m. (ii) Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals: Schedule A AGENDA: (i) Animal Health Ireland Strategic Plan (2015-2017) – Priority COM(2016)815 Regulation on access to cross-border social security services Programmes [Representatives from Animal Health Ireland]; and (ii) Management of Aquaculture Licensing [Officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Joint) Agriculture, Food and the Marine] CR4, LH 2000 9 a.m. AGENDA: Road Safety Strategy Session A: 9 a.m. [Minister for Transport, Tourism Education and Skills (Joint) and Sport] CR2, LH 2000 4 p.m. Session B: 11.15 a.m. [Ms. Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive Officer, Road Safety AGENDA: Scrutiny of the Equal Status (Admission to Schools Bill) 2016 Authority; Mr. Michael Rowland, Road Safety Research and Driver Education, [Representatives from the Association of Community and Comprehensive Road Safety Authority; and Mr. Liam Duggan, Vehicle Testing and Enforcement, Schools; the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association; An Foras Road Safety Authority] Pátrúnachta; the General Synod Board of Education of the Church of Ireland; the Muslim Primary Education Board; and the Joint Management Body.] Future Funding of Domestic Water Services (Joint) CR4, LH 2000 1.30 p.m.