Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of items for the information of members. As regards our meeting time going forward, I was offered three slots to choose from for future committee meetings. The first time slot was 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. The second was 1 p.m. on Thursdays. The third was 5.30 p.m. on Wednesdays. I opted for the slot at 5.30 p.m. on Wednesdays as I thought it would be more practical for everyone. That is the time I picked. For the Deputies among us, most Wednesday nights will include voting and will, therefore, require their participation. For people coming from the country, 11 a.m. on a Tuesday would be awkward. It would mean a very early start. On Thursday afternoons, many of us would be looking to travel to the country again. Having a late finish on a Thursday evening, especially in the wintertime with traffic, would not be the most desirable option. Our slot time will change in the near future to 5.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on Wednesdays. I note committee meetings will extend to 3 hours, which will be a great help to me in the Chair. I will not be required to bring down the guillotine.

On the veterinary medicine Bill, officials could not come before the committee today but they have agreed to attend on 6 October. On this day fortnight, veterinary medicine representatives will come before us to discuss the Bill.

I remind members of a meeting of the Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This meeting will be held in private session on MS Teams at 6 p.m. There is only one item on the agenda of that meeting. It is hoped the meeting will not last too long.

This meeting is now adjourned. The next meeting of the joint committee will be held in public session on Tuesday, 28 September 2021, at 3.30 p.m. when there will be detailed scrutiny of the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021.