As it is now past 3 o'clock, we have to elect a temporary Chairman. Our Chairman, Deputy Lenihan, is indisposed at the moment and our vice-Chairman is not available. May I have nominations for election of a Chairman?
Election of Temporary Chairman.
Clerk
I propose Deputy O'Hanlon as Chairman for this session.
I second that proposal.
Clerk
Are there any other proposals? Since there are no other proposals, I ask Deputy O' Hanlon to take the Chair.
I thank the Members. First, I have an announcement to make about television proceedings. Normally, they would be transmitted from this room on channel 25 but today, for technical reasons, they are going out on channels 5 and 7.
European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1994: Committee Stage.
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Tom Kitt, and his officials to this meeting. The Bill before us is the European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1994, which amends the European Communities Acts, 1972 to 1993. The Bill enables provisions of the treaty providing for the accession of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway to become part of the domestic law of the State.
The enactment of the Bill is a necessary step to enable Ireland to be in a position to ratify the accession treaty. All parties to the accession treaty have agreed to complete their ratification procedures before the end of this year.
The European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1994, is short, consisting of two sections. Section 1 of the Bill amends the definition of the treaties governing the European Communities contained in the European Communities Act, 1972, to include the treaty of accession for Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway, signed at Corfu on 24 June 1994. The list of treaties governing the European Communities is set out in a table to section 1 of the Bill. The accession treaty for Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway is added to the list of 17 treaties, Acts and decisions included in the definition of treaties governing the European Communities.
Section 2 contains the short title, collective citation, construction and commencement provisions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs will bring the Act into operation by Order. There is one amendment, which is in the name of the Minister.