Apologies have been received from Deputies O'Brien,Higgins,Deasy and Gregory and Senators Hannigan and Norris. Those substituting for members have been noted by the secretariat.
I remind members and those in the Visitors Gallery to switch off their mobile phones and BlackBerries completely, not to leave them in silent mode during the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment.
The minutes of the meeting of 16 July have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.
On the matter of EU scrutiny, we received one item of correspondence on decisions taken by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny, a copy of which has been circulated. It is proposed that it be noted. Is that agreed? Agreed.