Apologies have been received from Deputy Bannon.
This is a short meeting before we formally publish the report of the committee on the future of the electoral register in Ireland. We cleared the draft report at our last meeting and were merely waiting for figures to be received on foot a parliamentary question I had tabled on the cost of running elections and the fees paid to returning officers, the statistics for which had to be inserted on pages 10 and 69. I intend to open the press conference with a brief introduction to the report and a comment on the proposals made therein. I will then invite members of the committee to contribute. I hope a member from each party will say a few words. We will then take questions from members of the media, although I do not know how many will be present. The press conference will take place in the audio-visual room in five minutes time. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Before we adjourn, I ask the committee to formally decide on attendance at the waste management conference to be held in Canada from 11 to 15 May. The clerk to the committee has circulated the details. It was agreed that members would travel. This is in accordance with our activities under our terms of reference. The Opposition convenor has consulted Opposition members and agrees that Deputy Bannon should attend. On the Government side, Deputy Fitzpatrick has indicated his willingness to attend.
