In the absence of the Chairman, I ask for nominations for a temporary chairman.
Business of Select Committee.
Clerk to the Select Committee
I nominate Deputy Connor.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations, I ask Deputy Connor to take the Chair.
The first item we should deal with is the allocation of time to the Bill today. It is suggested the committee should meet until 5 p.m.
That is reasonable and I support the suggestion to conclude at 5 p.m.
Could we be realistic about the estimated time required and the time available? There may be a case for continuing beyond 5 p.m. if we cannot finalise the Bill between now and then.
Is the Deputy talking about the completion of Committee Stage?
Yes.
Members seem to prefer completing it tomorrow evening. I take it we will deal with it until some point tomorrow evening, which has yet to be decided. I understand we will start at 9.30 a.m. and work through until a time to be determined. The aim is to complete Committee Stage tomorrow.
There is no problem with that.
I expect to deal expeditiously with the amendments. We have spent a great deal of time on approximately 140 amendments to date. I hope we can finish the Stage in the timeframe suggested by the Acting Chairman. It is a long Bill which has correctly involved much consideration. I am anxious to finalise it because there will probably be a requirement to report back to the House. I have a feeling the Seanad will also have its say and we may have to deal with Seanad amendments. There will be plenty of opportunities. I have given a number of commitments in respect of Report Stage and it will take some time. It is probably one of the longest debates on a Bill for some time.
I assure the Minister that the Chair will do what is necessary to expedite the business. Nevertheless, the pace is up to Members.
Perhaps at 4.50 p.m. we could consider the progress made. We may then be in a position to agree a timetable for tomorrow so that we do not unduly delay on one section to the detriment of others. Perhaps one of the officials, if they are not too busy when we are discussing the Bill this afternoon, will put forward some suggestions at 4.50 p.m. For example, it may be possible to take sections together.
That is a good idea.
It sounds reasonable.
A galloping start?
At the last meeting of the committee we had reached section 29.
I am not sure if this is the appropriate time to draw attention to a typographical error in the final word of the minutes of the proceedings of Wednesday, 18 October. The minutes state that the Select Committee adjourned until 19 May. I believe there is a need to correct this error.
The minutes for that meeting will be corrected accordingly.
Waste Bill, 1995: Committee Stage (Resumed).