I welcome the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, and his officials to the meeting, the purpose of which is to consider Committee Stage of the Civil Liability and Courts Bill 2004. It has been suggested that we should try to finish by no later than 5 p.m. Is that agreed?
Business of Select Committee.
What will happen if we do not finish by that time?
We need to finish the Bill today. At what time will we return if we do not finish by 5 p.m.?
We should aim to finish by that time.
We will aim to do so but should make provision in case we do not.
I am prepared to join in that aim.
If we do not finish by 5 p.m., we can re-examine the matter.
The suggestion is to leave it open. We will endeavour to finish by 5 p.m.
Since brevity is the soul of wit, we should be brief.
If I try to push them along, members will know it is with the intention of finishing before 5 p.m. Is it agreed that we will review the matter as we approach 5 p.m.? Agreed.
Due to administrative difficulties in my Department, our amendments to section 36 have only been——
On what page?
They are not there. I have sent copies of the proposed amendments to the Clerk to the committee and Opposition spokesmen in order that they will understand what we intend to do with regard to the in camera rule. Because of a glitch yesterday, we were unable to get them to the Bills Office in time for inclusion in the approved list of amendments.
Does the Minister have a draft of what he is proposing?
I do and would like everybody to have it.
Is the Minister proposing that we discuss them on Committee Stage or flagging them for Report Stage?
I will do whatever the committee is agreeable to. At the very least, I wish to flag them for Report Stage. If this meets with approval, we will discuss them on Committee Stage.
Perhaps we will deal with them later because spokespersons have not yet received a copy.