Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 60 seeks to make the new chairperson of the new economic development and enterprise strategic policy committee, SPC, a member of the local authority's local enterprise office, LEO. I cannot support this proposed amendment because the local enterprise offices will be executive offices within the local authorities and will perform functions on behalf of Enterprise Ireland under the service level agreements. Unlike the county and city enterprise boards with a board structure, LEOs will not have a committee with members but will be serviced by LEO staff and as such, it is not possible to make legislative provision for the chair of the SPC to be a member of the non-existent board. Local oversight by the elected members of the operation of the LEO instead will be provided through the new strategic policy committee for economic development and enterprise.

Likewise, I do not support amendment No. 63, because the establishment of all committees, including the external representative members, already is a reserved function. This amendment would add nothing to the existing requirements in regard to the appointment of external members of committees by the elected members. However, the membership of the local community development committee, LCDC, is different, in that the particular requirements of the committee will set the parameters on how members need to be selected on appointment. These requirements are set out in sections 128D(1) and 128D(2). In addition, following a Committee Stage amendment, the selection of the membership of the LCDC shall be done in consultation with the corporate policy group, CPG. I also note that one function of the LCDC will be to develop plans for the rural development programme and that those conditions laid down by the European Union come into play in respect of allowing the LCDC to be able to implement EU funding programmes.