We will take Committee Stage of the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003 on the following dates: Monday, 5 January, Wednesday, 7 January and Thursday, 8 January at the times agreed.
Business of Select Committee.
I am unhappy about the arrangements for future meetings. We get a great deal of criticism about the length of time we take off. I have no problem working in January but meetings on the dates specified leaves very little time for a break, not alone for elected members but for staff. I realise you, Chairman, and the Whips have agreed the dates. Members are working right up to Christmas. I am also a member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights and will be involved in meetings of that committee for two weeks at the end of January. I know that has nothing to do with this committee but I feel the meetings set out will place severe demands on Members. Could we schedule the meetings mentioned for mid-January?
No. We need to meet when the Minister is available. We have not been able to schedule the meetings for other dates because of the Minister's commitments when Ireland takes over the Presidency of Europe. We even looked at the possibility of meeting for two hours on Mondays or Fridays only but that did not work.
Is Friday 2 January ruled out?
That is the only day staff are available to do the enormous amount of work required on the amendments. The staff must have the relevant documentation ready for me by Monday, 5 January at 2 p.m. The dates given are the only ones we could agree with the Minister. There is a slight hope we will complete our consideration of the Bill in two days. I do not think we will.
Clerk to the Committee
The office is closed for four days, re-opening on 29 December and will be closed again until 2 January.
With Deputy Andrews away on honeymoon, we have no Government convenor. The Fine Gael frontbench spokesperson is also unavailable. The dates given are the best we could come up with, even with all those constraints. We all agree there are difficulties involved but as members of this committee we have given enormous commitment to this Bill and do not wish to delay it.
The select committee adjourned at 1.40 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Monday, 5 January 2004.