Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I ask that all members have a copy of the amendment groupings as this is an important aid to the business in hand. I advise members that following a decision yesterday in the committee, we will take the Courts Bill 2016 and the first three sections will be removed. This committee must physically do that. It is not something that can be done in advance. Deputies Seamus Healy, Jim O'Callaghan, Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall, Richard Boyd Barrett, Bríd Smith and Gino Kenny have tabled four amendments in the first section. The Deputies can press those amendments if they choose but knowing that when I put the proposition on the section, that the section will fall. The Deputies can advise the Chairman that they are withdrawing the amendment. The option is entirely the Deputies', I am in their hands. I advise that this is the mechanism by which we can proceed with section 4 and the rest of the Bill as it presents. I am in the hands of the Deputies when it comes to it. Deputy Healy has amendment No. 1 and he has the choice to have his amendment addressed or he can withdraw it. This is informal advice as the situation is unusual. I am only advising members as I would have appreciated as a member of the committee myself in the past. I am indicating that Deputies have the option to withdraw their amendments when I ask if the section stands part of the Bill as it will be lost. That will apply also to sections 2 and 3. Is this helpful and are there any questions in that regard? We are okay.

I advise that all mobile phones should be switched off as, even in silent mode, they cause interference with the recording equipment in the Dáil Chamber. This meeting has been convened to consider the Committee Stage of the Courts Bill 2016. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy David Stanton and his officials.