This meeting is convened for the consideration of Committee Stage of the Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011. Apologies have been received from Deputies Michael Colreavy, Michael McNamara and Michael Moynihan, who are replaced by Deputies Martin Ferris, Kevin Humphries and Seamus Kirk, respectively.
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Shane McEntee, and his officials. This is the Minister of State's first time to attend a meeting of the sub-committee. I request that members ensure their mobile telephones are switched off.