Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration, by this committee, of the Legal Metrology (Measuring Instruments) Bill 2017. The Bill was referred to the select committee by order of the Dáil on 14 July. Apologies have been received from Deputy Niall Collins.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Pat Breen. He has responsibility for trade, employment, business, the EU digital Single Market and data protection. I also welcome his officials to the meeting.

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

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

I invite the Minister of State to say a few words, if he wishes.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chairman for organising this meeting today because there is an urgency in terms of this Bill. I particularly thank the members here present, Deputies Neville and Quinlivan. Any time I come down here they are always here. I compliment them on their attendance at this meeting.

This Bill is technical in nature and I know the committee has previously discussed it with the Tánaiste. The purpose of the Bill is to give further effect to the Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the member states relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments, and to provide related matters. I will not elaborate as the committee has discussed it already. This technical Bill is required to transpose Articles 1 and 3, which are two articles in the Bill - there are more articles for the directive - on the harmonisation of the laws of the member states relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments. The remainder of the directive will be transposed, by way of regulation, under the European Communities Act 1972.

We know that we are behind with this Bill. We also know that the committee has gone out of its way to ensure it gets a speedy resolution here through Committee Stage. Once the legislation is approved here today Report Stage will be taken in the Dáil and then on to the Seanad as well. We hope to have the legislation finalised in the coming weeks so that the Bill can go through to the European Commission. We have worked with the European Commission on this matter as well. It understands where we are coming from.

Again, I thank the members. I also want to thank the team from the National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, for its co-operation. I also thank my own team in the Department for its hard work in getting this Bill through. I refer to Mr. Michael Pender, Ms Nina Brennan and Ms Ailish Looby.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. I said to the clerk to the committee before we started that many moons ago and in another life, my family had a business where petrol was sold and the weights and measures man visited.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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That is right.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The weights and measures man visited the family business every three years to check that one sold the exact amount. On one particular day the man arrived and our litre measurement was slightly off, so much so that we gave 10% more. The man was going to close down the petrol operation because the measurement was wrong. Fortunately, common sense prevailed and we corrected the measurement on the next day. It goes to show measurements can work for and against a person. I wanted to mention my story to give a little light relief before we start proceedings.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I can see why the Chairman is good with her customers and I hope she is the same with her constituents.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Bill has now completed Committee Stage, it is recommended that the members submit Report Stage amendments to the Bills Office, without delay, as Report Stage may be tabled at short notice.

I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending today's meeting.