I ask members to turn off their mobile phones. For the purpose of the Official Report, I have been requested to identify members when they are called to speak. I welcome the members present and the Minister and his officials.
Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in a committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. For this purpose the parliamentary precincts are considered to be the accommodation assigned to Members in Leinster House, any other location in Leinster House or Leinster House 2000 or the Convention Centre Dublin on days on which the relevant House sits there. I ask members to note that they may participate remotely in proceedings held in public only from the locations listed above as privilege for their utterances only applies when participating from these locations.
It is also important to note that in order to participate in a division, the committee member must be physically present in the room.
Members are reminded that due to Covid-19 restrictions, each session must conclude within two hours and that no extension of time is possible.
We are dealing with the Finance Bill. A number of temporary Chairmen will take us through the next few days, and I ask the committee for its co-operation in getting through the Bill as quickly and as efficiently as we can while at the same time giving it the appropriate and necessary scrutiny.
Any member acting in substitution for another member of the committee should formally notify the clerk. Divisions will be taken as they arise. Members attending this meeting should be aware that, pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), they may move their amendments but cannot participate in voting on those amendments.
We will refer to the brief as we go along. The suspension of the meeting will be at 1 p.m.
