I remind members to turn off their mobile telephones when attending committee meetings. Active mobile telephones interfere with sound systems and RTE has informed us that it will not broadcast any part of a meeting where interference from mobile phones occurs.
Apologies have been received from Deputies Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Sandra McLellan and Senator Fiach Mac Conghail.
The joint committee went into private session at 2.20 p.m. and resumed in public session at 2.50 p.m.