This meeting has been convened for the purpose of continuing the committee's consideration of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and officials from the Department of Finance. The select committee will consider Committee Stage of the Bill until 3 p.m., at the latest, in accordance with an order of the Dáil dated 3 April 2003. If proceedings have not concluded by that time, they will be brought to a conclusion at 3 p.m. by one question which will be put from the Chair and which will, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, nominated as a substitute for the Minister for Finance, or any such other Minister of State nominated to substitute on behalf of the Minister for Finance. The select committee shall take a sos between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and shall conclude at 3 p.m. I remind members and officials to remove allpapers from this room at the end of today's session.
