All mobile telephones should be switched off. This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration by the select committee of the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, and his officials. I suggest we consider the Bill until 6 p.m. and then decide whether we need to spend more time on it after that.
Business of Select Committee.
We have a parliamentary party meeting at 5 p.m., at which there will be serious discussions on the entitlements of Members during an election campaign. It is important all Members of the Oireachtas attend their respective parliamentary party meetings on this matter. I beg to be excused for 20 to 30 minutes at approximately 5 p.m., otherwise I am available until the Carbon Fund Bill 2006 is introduced in the House.
I hope to conclude this Bill today so that we will not have to come back to it next week as we are all extremely busy. Deputy Durkan has suggested we break at 5 p.m. for half an hour. Will Deputy Durkan come back and continue until we finish the Bill?
I will come back until the Carbon Fund Bill 2006 is introduced in the House.
Without rushing the parliamentary process, we will make an effort to try to finish the Bill today.
I advise strongly against rushing the parliamentary process in this case. This is a very important Bill which will have considerable implications. In the interests of the Minister, the House, the Opposition and, in particular, consumers, it would be extremely dangerous to rush it.
We will suspend at 5 p.m., resume at 5.30 p.m. and then decide at 7 p.m. how we will proceed.
Private Members' business is at 7 p.m. and the Carbon Fund Bill will be taken again at 8.30 p.m.
Will we continue until 8.30 p.m., if necessary?
I am available.
Is Deputy Broughan available?
We support some of the key issues in the Bill but we want to strengthen it. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, back from his very important meeting with the Chinese Vice Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Pu Changcheng, in Beijing. I hope he did something very worthwhile for Ireland having expended all those carbon emissions going to Shanghai, Beijing and other places. Is the Minister still in Palo Alto?
He is and he is suffering as a result of wind burn.
I advised Deputy Broughan earlier that he is on Government business.
He will find the communications system in Palo Alto is a lot better than in Dublin.
We have agreed to suspend at 5 p.m. and resume at 5.30 p.m. We will know by then the situation in respect of the Bill and we will decide what time we will finish tonight. I hope members will agree to finish the Bill tonight.
If necessary, perhaps we will suspend for a half an hour at 7 p.m. for tea.
Is that agreed? Agreed.