I welcome the Minister, Deputy Walsh, and his officials, Mr. Tom Arnold, Assistant Secretary General, Ms Marion Byrne, Principal Officer, and Ms Alice McCullough, Higher Executive Officer, to the meeting the purpose of which is to consider the Revised Estimates for the Department. Before I ask the Minister to open the proceedings, Deputy Connaughton wishes to raise a matter.
Business of Select Committee.
I do not wish to delay the meeting but I understood the Minister might give us 30 minutes before we dealt with the Revised Estimate to deal with the milk quota rights group. As the Chair is aware the committee met them and the Department officials and legal people were allowed into the meeting. It was decided we would put their views to the Minister and would hear his views on the matter. If the Minister agrees, we will do so at the beginning of this meeting.
How much time has been set aside for this meeting?
Two hours.
We will not have any difficulty completing the rest of the business in one and a half hours.
I am happy to do what the committee decides.
Do Members wish to deal with the Revised Estimate first? The Minister explained to me last week that the other matter is sub judice.
There is a problem meeting them because there is a court action but I have no difficulty discussing the matter with the committee.
Will we deal with the Revised Estimate first?
I propose that we deal with this matter first.
As this issue has been ongoing we should deal with it now. We met the Minister's officials, legal people, the milk quota group and everyone else. He is the only missing part of the jigsaw. I have an interest in this area and wish to hear the Minister's views.
To ensure the discussion would not drag on there should be a time limit of 30 minutes.
That is important. The discussion may continue until 4.40 p.m.