I apologise for the delay in beginning the meeting. The minutes of the meeting of 15 June 2005 have been circulated? Are they agree? Agreed.
Senator Callanan wishes to raise a matter.
Business of Joint Committee.
I wish to clarify an incident at the last meeting. At the meeting, it was made clear that the Seanad comes first, the same as the Dáil comes first. I asked one of the ushers to turn on the monitor opposite me as we were expecting a division in the Seanad. The Opposition were playing trouble again. When the usher turned on the monitor, vótáil was registered on it. I saw it as my duty to leave. It was not out of any discourtesy to the Chair, any member or official. It was to do the duty I was directed to do by my leader, which was to attend a division in the Seanad at that time. Maybe the Chairman did not see the monitor. I left the room because the division had been called. It was out of no disrespect to anyone. If any inconvenience arose, it was not of my making and I did not wish to have it that way.
I apologise for being annoyed with the Senator. We thought we might have had to call the meeting off as a Senator was required for the meeting.
There is no need for anapology from the Chairman.
In future we must make sure the monitors are turned on when we arrive.
It is somewhat haphazard by the management structure of the Houses. Some other system of informing members that a division has been called should be put in place. It could be simply the ringing of the bells once or twice.
I will ask the clerk of the committee to make contact with whoever is in charge.
I thank the Chair for his tolerance.