Mr. David Joyce:

I welcome members' comments. We are open to their request that we keep the committee informed, whether that involves further meetings with it or the submission of an interim report. I take on board the comments about the timelines and the opportunities in respect of the local government cycle. We intend to work to the timeline we have been given and, hopefully, not go beyond that. The members of the review group see the potential for progress in light of the Minister's stated commitment on our findings. We intend to meet that deadline Should specific areas arise in our work on which the committee wants clarification, however, we are prepared to return and address them. We welcome members' comments and their strong and practical suggestions, which, I hope, we can reflect to some degree in the final report.