I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, and his officials. The purpose of this meeting is consideration of Committee Stage of the Finance Bill 2013, which was referred to the committee by Dáil Éireann on 21 February 2012. The committee is required by the Dáil to report completion of its consideration of the Bill not later than Friday, 8 March 2013.
The timescale, in terms of the completion by the committee of its consideration of the specified group of sections and amendments tabled thereto, is determined by an allocation of time order made by the Dáil on 5 March. The order, which has been circulated to members, further provides that any division claimed on the proceedings of the Bill must be postponed until immediately prior to the time set for the guillotine, or that if proceedings conclude before the guillotine is reached, on completion of those proceedings the putting of any question which is contingent on a proposed division must similarly be postponed.
Before we commence, I remind members and those in the Visitors' Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off.