Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Ceann Comhairle a few days ago but he was not sure. He said that it is in the lottery, but there are only two weeks left and there are many other things in the system. It may or may not be, but I have asked. I can say no more than that. We note that.

No. 2245C received from an individual dated 11 June 2019 provides his comments and views in relation to the recent Supreme Court judgment regarding the Kerins case. We will note this item, but we will not discuss it. It is a matter for the Oireachtas and others.

No. 2250C is from an individual dated 14 June 2019 who has previously corresponded with the committee in relation to Government policy regarding climate change. I propose with the individual’s permission that we forward the matter to the appropriate sectoral committee for any action it deems appropriate. It relates to climate change policy which arose at our meeting on the cost of the State purchasing carbon credits from other countries. However, this is a policy issue and we will pass it on to the relevant committee.

No. 2251C from Deputy Kate O'Connell, dated 14 June 2019, was also held over from the last meeting. The Deputy requests further details regarding information provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in relation to Tusla at the meeting on 13 June. The secretariat has included this request in the follow-up information requested from the Department. We note the Deputy's request and look forward to receiving the information.

No. 2252C is from Wind Aware Ireland, WAI, dated 14 June 2019 regarding renewable energy and emissions targets. While I made some comments recently on information provided to the committee regarding costs related to carbon emissions, this is ultimately a policy matter. The letter raises more queries than that. WAI has contacted the committee before. It produced a document some time ago on the cost of wind energy in Ireland report. We received a copy of it and decided that it was not a matter for the committee but more for the respective sectoral committee. WAI has now come back expressing confusion as to why the Committee of Public Accounts was debating the issue having indicated on 7 February 2018 that it had no oversight in the area. It asks that if we are examining the issue of the cost of meeting EU targets that WAI be included in our discussion. The reason it arose the last day was that officials from the Department were before the committee and we were dealing with the cost of purchase credits. It is not our policy area but we are looking at the financial aspects. I can understand WAI's point as we said we would not discuss it but that cost issue arose as part of the departmental vote. The letter stated that we may have confused the issue in relation to emission targets and that they are a good idea but that renewable targets are useless unless they are linked to emission reductions. We will note that correspondence. It is an issue that will be debated further, and I believe a special committee will be established on climate change. When that happens it will be in its direct remit. Financial matters in relation to all these issues will continue to arise at this committee, but not policy issues.

No. 2260C from an individual dated 18 June 2019 is further correspondence in relation to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. This relates to the use of test cases where there are a number of similar cases in the appeals office and where there are a number of workers engaged with the same employer who have individually submitted an appeal. They often look to make a sample decision on a number of cases, probably to see if there a systematic issue involved.

Perhaps it is a way for them to build up their knowledge so they can deal with the cases more straightforwardly and on an individual basis. This continually contests the appeals office's right to do that.