Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We are meeting the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, to discuss the general scheme of the freedom of information (amendment) Bill. I welcome the Minister and his officials. The Minister has supplied his full opening address, which we will take as read, as was proposed when it was issued earlier by the clerk. We will then deal with the main points to be considered. When I get an opportunity to do so I will move to questions. I remind members to switch off their mobile phones. I also remind members of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I call on the Minister to give us a germane view of where he is with the legislation and we will proceed from there.