I apologise on behalf of Deputy Eamon Ryan who has had to attend a meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport. Unfortunately, he has not yet developed the art of bilocation. This part of the meeting will be dedicated to our consideration of the Sea Pollution (Hazardous and Noxious Substances) (Civil Liability and Compensation) Bill 2000. The clerk has circulated two draft reports on the motions relating to EUTELSAT and the ERO which were considered by the select committee this morning. Following our consideration of the Sea Pollution (Hazardous and Noxious Substances) (Civil Liability and Compensation) Bill 2000, we will consider these reports. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher, and his officials. This is the first occasion on which he has come before the committee since his recent appointment. I wish him well in his new job. The committee looks forward to dealing with him and we wish him every success in dealing with the major challenges he will face in the future. I suggest that we continue with these deliberations until our consideration of the Bill has been completed. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I wish to bring to the attention of members an error in the list of amendments. Amendment No. 7 should contain the figure 1 in superscript after the words "Council Regulation EC No. 44/2001", which refers to the footnote to the amendment.