It was stated in the revised agenda that the Minister's views would be circulated before the meeting.
Business of Joint Committee.
Is the Deputy referring to the Minister's views on emissions trading?
Cement.
A letter was posted to home addresses and Leinster House addresses, dated 17 January 2006.
Will it be circulated to Members who do not have it such as me?
Yes. We can give the Deputy a copy now. It was only received yesterday.
Appendix 6 of the work programme lists matters relating to the select committee. It lists the legislation, but I do not see on it my Private Members' Bill, Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2005, which was referred to the select committee.
We referred to that matter before the Deputy came in. We received a letter from the private secretary to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the Bill. A letter from the Minister on the issue has been circulated today. It states the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill will be brought forward shortly. As an aside, a suggestion was made on "Prime Time" that the contents of the Deputy's Bill can be dealt with by way of amendment to this Bill.
That is the Minister's view. I have a different view. In so far as the work programme is concerned, the committee cannot remove an item from its agenda that has been referred to it by the House. The House referred the Bill to the committee. With all due respect, the Minister does not have the authority to stand down an order from the House. I want this Bill to be listed. We can debate when or how we do it, but it should not be removed from the list. It was referred to the committee by the House and it stays with the committee.
We will add it to the work programme.