Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will note and publish that and No. 1108C. We want to discuss this IBEC letter regarding commercial rates and the funding of local authorities. Correspondence from IBEC is publishable so we will publish the letter. I do not think it wrote to us to keep a secret. We will deal with the issue of funding local authorities during the course of meeting.

No. 1109C is correspondence, dated 20 February 2018, from Mr. Fintan Gorman, chairman of Inland Fisheries Ireland, and No. 1113C is correspondence, dated 21 February 2018, from Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, both containing information requested by the committee regarding the national strategy for angling development on procedures used relating to consideration of projects and disbursement of funds. I propose that we note the correspondence and forward a copy to the body which raised the matter with the committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1111C is correspondence, dated 21 February 2018, from Mr. Neil McDermott of the Higher Education Authority containing information note as requested by the committee relating to the role of secretary-financial controller in institutes of technology. I propose that we note this and forward a copy to the correspondent who raised the matter with the committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 1119C is correspondence, dated 22 February, from the Irish Environmental Forum responding to correspondence that the committee agreed to forward to the individual in question from the director general of the EPA. The forum maintains that the EPA licenses industrial plants that have caused €1 billion euro in damage as a result of their emissions. There are matters which may be worth pursuing with the EPA. This is a matter we can put on our work programme for the autumn. It is a very significant issue concerning the role of the EPA with regard to pollution caused by organisations and industrial plants the EPA licenses. We will note and hold that over for a later date.

No. 1122C is correspondence , dated 22 February, from Ms Oonagh McPhillips, acting Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality, providing a note relating to the wards of court. The Department states that because the wardship funds are not public funds and are subject to the control and supervision of the High Court, they cannot be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and that to do so would undermine the independence of the Judiciary. I propose we note the correspondence and forward a copy to the individual who has written to the committee on the topic on many occasions. The person may not be satisfied with the response. Does Deputy Catherine Murphy wish to comment? It is about wards of court.