The Joint Committee met at 14:30

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett, Senator Thomas Byrne, Deputy Michael Creed, Senator Paul Coghlan, Deputy Pearse Doherty, Senator Michael D'Arcy, Deputy Regina Doherty, Senator Aideen Hayden, Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly, Senator Lorraine Higgins,+ Deputy Paschal Donohoe, Senator Tom Sheahan. Deputy Timmy Dooley, Deputy Noel Harrington,* Deputy Simon Harris, Deputy Heather Humphreys, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, Deputy Michael McGrath, Deputy Dara Murphy, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, Deputy Arthur Spring, Deputy Brian Stanley,

* In the absence of Deputy Liam Twomey.

+ In the absence of Senator Aideen Hayden.

DEPUTY CIARÁN LYNCH IN THE CHAIR.