The next item on the agenda is the preferred day and time slot for future meetings.
Business of Committee
To the best of my knowledge, no other committee has met yet. Perhaps we could agree to meet at 3 o'clock on Wednesdays as that time and day suited today. If we start debating the issue we might cut into proposed schedules for other committees. By virtue of the fact that we met here this afternoon perhaps 3 o'clock on Wednesdays is as good a time as any.
Is that agreed?
How many times a week will we meet and for how long? Is it traditional to meet once a week?
Once we set out our work programme we will meet once a week. The suggestion is that we meet at 3 o'clock on Wednesdays.
For how long does the committee normally meet?
Much depends on the witnesses before us and how long members wish to spend examining them. The length of meetings will have to remain open ended.
Is there a possibility of the committee meeting more than once a week, if necessary?
Yes, if necessary.
The two committees of which I was a member in the last Dáil both met between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. If we are to have meetings with a large number of witnesses in attendance, it is inevitable that those meetings will go on for between two and four hours. There were too many situations in the last Dáil where I was present here until 7 p.m. which affected the productivity and use of meetings. I suggest, therefore, that we meet earlier in the day.
When?
I understand the previous committee met on a Thursday morning. The benefit in starting in the morning is that if there is a detailed meeting, it does not have to conclude at a certain time, say, 8 p.m., or because people have to leave or because there is a debate on a Private Members' motion in the Dáil. I suggest we stick with the previous regime.
I agree. I understand the previous committees met at 10 a.m. on a Thursday and that this worked very well. I have the same feeling as Deputy Paschal Donohoe about meeting on a Wednesday at 3 p.m. Although the House sits late on a Wednesday, a meeting can drag on. Personally, I would prefer to meet on a Thursday at 10 a.m.
While I take account of Deputy Michael McCarthy's viewpoint, the tradition has been for the committee to meet on a Thursday morning. In keeping with tradition and in the light of a possible clash with other committee meetings, which is likely to happen on a Wednesday, and as the work of the committee is so vital, it makes practical sense to retain the Thursday morning meeting time.
It seems Thursday morning is the preferred meeting time. Is there any other business? We can deal with our work programme next week when we will have the Comptroller and Auditor General with us.
Will the Comptroller and Auditor General be brought in for a general briefing?
Yes. That will happen in private session next week.
Will there be a meeting the following week?
Yes. The Comptroller and Auditor General will attend next Thursday to brief members, particularly newer members. We will go through the work programme with him and I hope we will begin our formal public sessions the following week. We must also bring some of the work done by the last committee to a conclusion. Next week we will determine what our priorities should be. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The committee adjourned at 3.35 p.m. until 10 a.m. on Thursday, 23 June 2011.