8.   SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

Motion made, and Question proposed:

That the Body takes note of the Second Annual Report of the Body (Doc No 56)-(Mr Michael Mates)

Mr Michael Mates (Hampshire East) remarked that he considered it a good thing that the Body have an annual report which could be built on over the years and which served as a record of the Body.

Senator Pascal Mooney proposed that the report be laid before both Parliaments to give them an opportunity to debate it.

Mr Michael Mates (Hampshire East) thought it a good idea to place the report in the Parliaments' libraries.

The Chairman referred to the constraints on the Body as it is not a committee of the Parliaments but agreed with the suggestions that it should be laid in the Library..

Senator Pascal Mooney suggested that the Seanad would readily allow for debate on the report.

Mrs Marian McGennis (Dublin Central) agreed with Senator Mooney's proposal and suggested that recent legislation may have considered the Body as a committee of the Oireachtas. Referring to Lord Merlyn-Rees's earlier comment she suggested that attendance at the Body should be recognised for the Lords.

Mr Kevin McNamara (Hull North) suggested it would be useful for bodies interested in British-Irish matters, such as universities, to receive copies of the Body's reports.

Senator Pascal Mooney supported the points made and considered that there should be a greater dissemination of the Body's deliberations.

The Chairman suggested that such recommendations be made in the report of the Body's proceedings.

And the Question being put:- It was agreed to.

Resolved, That the Body takes note of the Second Annual Report of the Body (Doc No 56).

The Session was suspended at 12.45 pm and resumed at 2.30 pm with Mr Michael O'Kennedy in the Chair.