We have a quorum. The minutes of the meeting on 12 March 2003——
Business of Joint Committee.
The Chairman said he has a quorum. This is only because a couple of Senators are here and will have to leave very shortly. It is very discourteous that these meetings are continually scheduled at a time that clashes with the Order of Business in the Seanad. If the Chairman wants only a Dáil Committee on Foreign Affairs then that is what he should have. It is of a piece with the business about travel to Geneva where I was asked to go at great inconvenience. I rearranged my timetable and then the date was changed arbitrarily. The same thing occurred about the visit to South Africa. As an individual member of the committee I am complaining at the gross lack of courtesy to the members. With regard to travel it is worse for the civil servants who presumably have to rearrange their lives all the time when people act in such an arbitrary manner. I would like to see the members of this committee treated with respect.
I thank the Senator. We may have a private session and discuss the time again. We did try this before.
The minutes have been circulated with the agenda for the meeting. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising? No.