Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We are in public session. I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones. We will deal with correspondence in public session before commencing the main business.

Correspondence 2018/255 is an email from Deputy Munster requesting an update on Córas Iompair Éireann, CIÉ, pensions.

Correspondence 2018/262 is an email dated 14 April from Deputy Munster requesting that the committee writes immediately to CIÉ seeking clarity on whether the €30,000 limit will be maintained. The Deputy is not present so we will defer the matter until the next meeting.

Correspondence 2018/256 is an email from Senator Buttimer regarding Norwegian Airlines. The email refers to the suspension by the airline of its winter flight schedule from Cork Airport and Shannon Airport to the USA. It is proposed to schedule the meeting as soon as the committee schedule permits. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/257 and 257A are an email and attachment from Ms Aisling Dunne, who acts as an adviser to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. She forwarded the Report Stage amendments of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017. The Minister had agreed to send the amendments to the committee at the meeting dated 21 March. It is proposed to note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/258 and 258A are an email and attachment from Mr. Aidan Flynn, Freight Transport Authority Ireland, forwarding a press release on the report from CBRE on the rising confidence in the logistic and supply chain index. It is proposed to note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/259 is an email dated 18 April from Mr. Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive officer, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation. He requested an invitation to present to the committee the recently launched ITIC strategy. I propose that we schedule this matter for our next meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/260 is a letter dated 17 April from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. He responded to a letter that he received from the committee on CIÉ pensions. It is proposed that we note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/261 is an email dated 19 April from Ms Cáit Hayes who is a representative of the Houses of the Oireachtas to the EU. She forwarded a briefing from the Committee on Transport and Tourism in the European Parliament. It is proposed that we note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/263 relates to the referral of the Vehicle Registration Data (Automated Searching and Exchange) Bill 2018. The Bill was taken in the Lower House last week.

Correspondence 2018/264, is an email from Ms Cáit Hayes forwarding a link to a study on competition in air transport. It is proposed to note this correspondence. Is that agree? Agreed.

Correspondence 2018/265, is an email dated 24 April 2018 from Deputy Barry regarding the IRFU advertisement for unpaid internship. As Deputy Barry is not present, we will consider it at our next meeting.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Chairman, I apologise that I am a moment late in responding to the Chairman's comments on my correspondence on the CIÉ issue.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I am seeking clarification on the matter. My understanding is there is an urgency in respect of this matter. It will come before the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, before the end of June and we need clarification as to whether the legal advice given by CIÉ is to be capped at €30,000. That is deemed to be insufficient, so we need it clarified. Otherwise Deputy Barry's motion needs to be brought before the committee, as agreed.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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As Deputy Barry was not present and when his correspondence was reached, I moved on.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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That is why I am raising it now.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I understand that. I want to be fair and reasonable to everybody. As I understand it, we will write to CIÉ requesting an answer to the Deputy's query on the figure of €30,000. Is that okay?

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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That is fair enough.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The clerk to the committee has advised me that this will be done today. I can only take correspondence as it comes up, that is the way it is done.