We will now commence consideration of Committee Stage of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 2000 [Seanad] which was referred by the Dáil to the select committee.
Business of Select Committee.
On a point of order, Chairman, you will have received a letter from me today seeking the acceptance by the committee of a motion as follows:
That the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights renew its invitation to Hugh O'Flaherty to attend at the committee in order to explain his role in the Sheedy case, as requested by the Taoiseach on 20 June 2000; and resolves that if his invitation is not accepted within seven days, the committee shall request Dáil Éireann and the appropriate sub-committee of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges to confer upon the committee powers to compel the attendance of Mr. O'Flaherty for this purpose.
In view of the comments on the controversy which was raised in the Dáil, there is an onus on the committee to revisit this uncompleted business of last year. Since I wrote the letter to you, Chairman, there is an added urgency because I understand Mr. O'Flaherty has volunteered to comment on these matters in the media. Since he wrote to us in May of last year that he was precluded from doing that, it would be appropriate to discover if that is still his view.
I second Deputy Howlin's proposal that this matter be revisited, particularly as it was Mr. O'Flaherty himself who voluntarily offered to come before the committee, make a statement and answer questions. In the interest of the establishment of the truth, we need to revisit the matter urgently, particularly given recent and ongoing developments. I fully support the motion.
I confirm that I received notice of the motion from Deputy Howlin relating to the role of the former Justice, Mr. O'Flaherty in the Sheedy case. In accordance with normal procedure, that motion is being circulated to the joint committee members today and will be added to the agenda for the next scheduled meeting of the joint committee, Tuesday 27 June. It is not appropriate to seek to discuss the matter today as members are entitled to notice of its tabling and consideration. Members will recall the joint committee issued a number of reports in relation to this matter which will be circulated once again in advance of the meeting, if necessary. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Perhaps we should adjourn until the vote in the Seanad is completed.
Sitting suspended at 2.25 p.m. and resumed at 2.40 p.m.
We will now commence consideration of Committee Stage of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill, 2000, which was referred by the Dáil to the select committee. I welcome the Minister and his officials. It is proposed to adjourn today's meeting at 4.10 p.m. If the Bill has not been concluded by then, it is proposed to resume consideration of it tomorrow, 22 June, at 2 p.m. in room G5. Members are reminded that the select committee is also meeting at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow in G5 to take the Justice group of Estimates. For the information of members, it is proposed to group——
In relation to tomorrow's business, how long will the Estimates take?
From 11.30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the latest.
If we finished early we could return to the Bill then.
We will break for lunch and then come back.
I am sorry for being late. I got caught in the Seanad. I thank the committee for obliging me. There is too much business on this week, to be honest.
I have a matter on the Adjournment, for good measure.