Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not be calling on the Chairman's refereeing capabilities.

I thank the Minister for coming forward with this programme in response to the joint committee's request. It is a thorough and engaging document which outlines the Minister's workload and intentions within it. I expect it will be an evolving programme over the course of the Presidency. I ask the Minister to keep the committee informed of issues as they arise. I know the Chairman will not let me stray into a discussion of the water framework directive, the overall European Commission budget, the environmental aspects of CAP reform as they relate to SACs and the REPS, and also commitments on Leader groups, development companies and funding vis-à-vis the new frameworks the Minister is putting in place under local authorities and so forth.

I thank the Minister for outlining the details of the programme. I will go through them thoroughly and seek further information, if necessary, in the coming weeks and months. I wish him well in his stewardship during Ireland's Presidency and have no doubt he will be well able to progress matters. The committee should be kept informed and abreast of developments during that process. In the meantime we will put pressure on the Minister and the Government on the issue of budget formation for the European Union. The reforms to be introduced within the budget and the envelopes that may evolve may be to the advantage of the environment portfolio.