Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration by the select committee of the Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016 which was referred to it by order of the Dáil on 6 April 2017. Apologies have been received from Deputy Niall Collins. I welcome the Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and her officials. I thank her for facilitating the taking of Committee Stage of the Bill today as originally scheduled. It is appreciated. Before we begin our consideration of the Bill, on behalf of the committee and all of its members, I congratulate her on her new appointment. We wish her well and look forward to working with her in the future. I also thank the former Minister, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, for her contribution and work with the committee. I wish her well in her new role.

I ask members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or left in airplane mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of the proceedings, even when left in silent mode.

No amendments have been tabled to the Bill and it is intended to conclude Committee Stage today. Is that agreed? Agreed.