Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I propose that next Thursday we agree a work programme for January and February. There will definitely be a meeting or two on the third level education sector. We can discuss next Thursday whether we should have separate meetings for some of the whistleblowers. That will form our work early in the new year.

No. 1770, which is related to the previous correspondence, is from an individual and it relates to University of Limerick. The person has requested a meeting with the committee. We will consider that request when we discuss our work programme next week.

No. 1762 dated 30 November 2018 is from an individual and relates to illegal records of legal visits. This is a copy of a letter sent to the Taoiseach’s office asking that the committee address the matter. While the issue raised is potentially very serious, it does not fall within the remit of the committee. I believe this is the matter raised in the media last week about prison staff and the recording of what people understand to be legally privileged meetings and visits in prisons. We are scheduling for next week a meeting with the Prison Service before we break for Christmas. We will raise that with the Prison Service and the Department of Justice and Equality when their representatives are here in person shortly before Christmas.

No. 1766 dated 30 November 2018 is from an individual and concerns land zoning and planning in County Kerry. Planning matters or matters related to the possible losses to a local economy are not within the remit of the committee and I propose that we inform the individual accordingly. We will not get into planning matters. Is that agreed? Agreed. There have been parliamentary questions on the matter raised and any member is free to pursue it in that context.

That is the final batch of correspondence. We move on now to the statements of-----