The meeting is in public session. As the Chairman is unavoidably absent, I propose we suspend the meeting for five minutes.
Business of Joint Committee
This is not good enough. A meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m. today, after 12 weeks off. The committee did not meet during the recess. If we are going to suspend the meeting, we should reconvene at 4 p.m. to allow Senators attend the Order of Business in the Seanad.
In all fairness, there are several delegations waiting outside to make presentations to the committee. It would be unfair on them to postpone the meeting until 4 p.m. Some of them have travelled far to attend this meeting.
I accept that. However, it is poor form that the convenors were not consulted about the change to the schedule. I appreciate the clerk to the committee and the staff have their hands tied. It is not good enough, however, for the meeting to be suspended for an unknown reason. We were off for 12 weeks and there was no meeting in September until today.
I will agree to the Acting Chairman's proposal for a suspension on the basis that it would be unfair to the deputation attending today. The Seanad is, however, sitting at 2.30 p.m. This suspension is unfair to committee members who were here at 2. p.m. and did not get prior notification that the meeting time was to be changed. Neither have we been told as to why meeting time has been changed. I hope it is not to facilitate a parliamentary party meeting.
Deputy Tom Kitt took the Chair.
I was at a party meeting.
That is not a reason for a meeting to be suspended. I will repeat for the Chairman that it is poor form that a committee meeting was nearly suspended to facilitate a parliamentary party meeting. That has never happened before.
I respect what the Senator has said but I do recall facilitating other party meetings from time to time. This only happens on rare occasions.
In fairness to the Chairman, he always accommodates committee members.
I appreciate that. The Seanad's most important business of the day, the Order of Business, will begin at 2.30 p.m. The Houses have been in recess but there were no committee meetings in the first three weeks in September when it was possible.
I did try to have one meeting but there were some issues with the first three weeks of September.
I will have to give apologies at 2.30 p.m. to attend the Seanad Chamber.
It is going to be a tough day in that regard. I propose we return to private session to deal with some committee matters.
The joint committee went into private session at 2.20 p.m. and resumed in public session at 2.40 p.m.