I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. A question was raised about the rearrangement of our meetings for next week. I was asked by the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to deal with the Credit Union Bill next week. However, we had already arranged to have the salmon task force and Minister of State at the Department of the Marine before the committee. If the committee does not complete this Bill today, it can be concluded on that day also. Fianna Fáil Members have indicated that they wish to leave the Credit Union Bill until the date already agreed, 9 April, because they want more time to consider the Minister's amendments and to table their own. As we had already arranged that, I would ask the committee to allow me time to consult with Minister of State Rabbitte on taking the Credit Union Bill on the date previously agreed.
Business of Select Committee.
That Bill contains about 200 sections. It is a comprehensive document. Nearly every Member of the House has spoken on Second Stage which proves that it is important legislation. There is no way we could prepare amendments in such a short time with such little back-up. The Minister is tabling a substantial number of amendments and we must examine them too. We agreed that it would be taken on 9 April and I am prepared to stand by that. We can complete examination of it on 10 April.
I will consult with the Minister's office at the first opportunity.
I spoke to the Irish League of Credit Unions this morning and it would be in agreement with that.
The public needs time to debate the Minister's amendments and in the interests of us, as Opposition Members, and, indeed, the Irish League of Credit Unions, which would like to examine the proposed amendments, it would be only proper that we put back the examination of the Bill to 9 April, the date originally agreed.
If it is not taken next week, the committee could not take it the following week because it is Easter week. This means it would have to be taken on 9 April. As Deputy O'Keeffe suggested, the committee could allocate two days to the Bill because of its size. We could take either Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday of that week depending on the availability of rooms and consultation with the Minister's office. I ask the clerk, on behalf of the committee, to acquaint the Minister with that because he will want to make arrangements. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, 1996: Committee Stage.