I welcome the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and his officials. The Social Welfare Bill 2016 was referred to the select committee by Dáil Éireann on 10 November. This session in the Dáil Chamber will conclude at 11.30 a.m. and the debate will resume in Committee Room 4 at 2 p.m. Is that agreed? Agreed.
To provide for the smooth running of the meeting, let me bring the following items to the attention of members. Any member acting in substitution for a member of the committee should formally notify the clerk now, if he or she has not already done so. Divisions will take place as they occur. Members attending the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 95(3) should be aware that, pursuant to Standing Orders, they may move their amendments but may not participate in the votes on them.