The working group of Chairmen will allocate a particular time slot for each committee to meet and members will be informed when the decision is taken. It is important that we indicate our first preference. For the information of new members, the former joint committee met fortnightly on a Wednesday at 3 p.m. and that worked quite well. The Seanad sometimes meets on a Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. and it can be problematic if there is a vote in that House at 3 p.m. However, we have overcome that in the past. Has anyone a preference for a 2 p.m. or a 3 p.m. slot?
Business of Joint Committee.
We can opt for 3 p.m.
Is 3 p.m. on a Wednesday the first preference for members?
What is the earliest opportunity in the morning for a meeting? On a Wednesday many people in my office, such as constituency representatives, have many things to do and it can be difficult to track down officials at such times. Is there any possibility of meetings being held early in the morning?
It is possible to meet from 9.30 a.m. onwards.
We have three Senators and they want to be accommodated as well.
Some members may have to travel on a Wednesday morning which could cause a difficulty. It is no problem for those who stay overnight on Tuesdays but Deputies or Senators who have to travel on a Wednesday morning can encounter difficulties with traffic, and we all know what that can be like. We will, however, try to facilitate people to the best of our ability if there is a meeting in the early morning or late in the evening, say at 4 p.m. We must also take into consideration Question Time and the Order of Business in the Seanad.
Once a date is selected will we keep it for 12 months? Will it be a permanent arrangement?
Every committee has a slot so it is, to some extent, out of our hands.
It does clash with Question Time.
It does, but when it did so in the past we always got around it and arranged another time or another day, subject to a room being available. It is difficult.
As a former Senator, I suggest that 3 p.m. is much better than 2.30 p.m. on those days when the latter slot would clash with the Order of Business. One can get into the Seanad for the first half hour so 3 p.m. is better.
If 3 p.m. is our first preference, what is our second?
At the moment the Seanad meets at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesdays but, on the majority of occasions, the last Seanad met at 10.30 a.m. on a Wednesday and 2.30 p.m. on a Tuesday. Although the practice in the most recent four or five sittings has been to meet at 2.30 p.m. on a Wednesday I am not sure that will be the case in the future, when the legislative process kicks in. It may not be as problematic as it seems at the moment. The Order of Business may take place at 10.30 a.m., rather than in the afternoons.
What is our second preference?
What about 4 p.m. on a Wednesday?
What about after the Order of Business on a Wednesday, but before lunch?
That would be 11.30 a.m. Is that agreed? We need a third preference. Will we opt for 4 p.m. on a Wednesday or a Thursday?
Another problem arises when a delegation attends. A meeting usually lasts approximately two hours.
Yes, perhaps three hours.
We would then have to sit until very late.
I suggest 11.30 a.m. is our preference, even ahead of a slot at 3 p.m.
We must have a second slot.
Perhaps a slot at 11.30 a.m. should be our first preference.
Will we make 11.30 a.m. our first request?
Yes, with 3 p.m. as our second.
We have no third preference as yet. Perhaps it should be Saturday.
The Chairman will be on his own.
What about 4 p.m. on a Wednesday? No, that is not acceptable. Thursday morning at 10 a.m. is fine.
Perhaps it could be 11.30 a.m. on Thursday?
Would 11.30 a.m. on Thursday be suitable?
The only problem is that a meeting at that time would frequently clash with meetings of the National Forum on Europe.
How about meeting at 11 a.m. on Thursday? Is that agreed? Agreed.
While the joint committee will meet every fortnight, the select committee will meet when Bills, Estimates and other matters are referred to it by the Dáil. Reference is made to this in the brief.
I propose that the joint committee go into private session to discuss some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The joint committee went into private session at 12.45 p.m. and adjourned at 1.10 p.m. sine die.