James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This Bill will be coming before a number of committees, but I believe that the provisions that relate to this committee are in the majority. The purpose of this meeting is to receive a briefing from the Minister on the draft scheme of the Bill, as it relates to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice. Members will recall that the Minister had previously provided a written briefing to the members. On behalf of the committee I welcome the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee to the meeting. We look forward to working with the Minister over the term ahead, and I am sure we will have lots of engagements during that term, with this being the first of many.

The format for this part of the meeting is that I will invite the Minister to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by engagement, questions and comments from members of the committee. Given the short time available to us I ask members, today and every day, to be as focused as possible in their questions for the Minister. Although I will not strictly adhere to it if people have particular issues on a given day, the order of speaking as agreed at our first meeting will follow the general rule of thumb of Government first, Sinn Féin next, other party and group members next, and then members in the order in which they raise their hand. The last round may include non-committee members who wish to come in. I do not believe we have any non-committee members today. Where non-members are participating they will be asked to make it known some 24 hours in advance. There will be flexibility and this will not be a strict rule. If people want to get in or to get on I will try my best to accommodate those situations.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. With that formality and introduction out of the way I welcome the Minister and invite her to make a brief opening statement. The Minister has the floor.