John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty. Before we begin the meeting and as I will be chairing and not contributing to it I want to acknowledge the Minister's announcement that she will deal with people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement and that she will be explaining it to, and notifying, those people. Those affected, and I know a couple of them, will really appreciate this.

We will suspend for a couple of moments and bring in the officials from the Department.

Chairman:

I welcome the Minister and her officials. I suggest that we do not set a time limit and complete Committee Stage of the Bill today. Is that agreed? Agreed.

As for the committee's business this afternoon, any members acting as a substitute for a member of the committee should formally notify the clerk now or during the course of the meeting. Divisions on the Bill will be taken as and if they arise. Members attending the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 95(3) should be aware that, pursuant to Standing Orders, they may move their amendments but may not participate in the votes on them.

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the committee that Deputy Bailey cannot attend and has been replaced by Deputy Fitzpatrick.

Chairman:

I thank the Minister.