This meeting has been convened to consider Committee Stage of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2004. I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, and his officials. As there are 110 amendments to consider, I, therefore, suggest, with the agreement of members, that we sit for a longer period today. I also suggest that we suspend proceedings at 1 p.m., resume at 2 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. It is our intention to sit again tomorrow morning, if necessary. We will agree on the arrangements we should make for tomorrow at 5 p.m. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Business of Select Committee.
On a point of order, during the debate in the Dáil the Minister made serious allegations about persons outside the House. He described members of the Irish Computer Society as being involved in an anti-globalisation movement and stated they had no expertise or international accreditation. The tradition is that Members of the Dáil should not make reference to persons outside the House who cannot defend themselves. The Minister's comments about a professional body and certain individuals were defamatory. Before we commence proceedings, he should publicly apologise to the Irish Computer Society for the remarks he made.
The Ceann Comhairle is responsible for business in the Dáil Chamber. Our purpose is to deal with Committee Stage of the Bill. We will not delay proceedings.
Will the Minister adopt a decent approach and take this opportunity to clear the names of those he defamed during the Second Stage debate?
The Deputy has made his point. If the Minister wants to refer to the matter at a later stage, he is more than welcome to do so.
Serious allegations have been made against a professional body which has made submissions to the commission and this committee in good faith. To defame it when it is not in a position to defend itself is unacceptable. I demand that the Minister withdraw the defamatory comments made about the people concerned who are working in the interests of democracy to give a view on this vital issue. Before we conduct any business, the Minister should remove the smear put on people serving the interests of Irish democracy and giving of their time, energy and talents to provide an informed view on a vital issue.
The Deputy has made his point.
I am asking the Minister to withdraw his defamatory remarks about the group in question.
I do not consider that I made defamatory remarks about anybody.
The Minister has now responded. He said they had no expertise or international accreditation and that they were part of the anti-globalisation movement.
This is repetitive. We have more than 100 amendments to discuss.
I will be repetitive as long as I——
The Deputy can be repetitive but not here.
The people concerned have been smeared by the Minister.
I have allowed the Deputy to make his point. I will not allow any further discussion on the matter. It was said in the Chamber, not at this meeting. I will deal specifically with the Electoral (Amendment) Bill.
The matter should be dealt with.