Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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I advise members of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if members' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Before I take the minutes from the previous meeting, I confirm we have received apologies from Deputy John Clendennen. Are the minutes of the previous meeting agreed to? Agreed. Members were advised the draft report of the travel report from the trip of the Ringsend wastewater plant was circulated to them several days ago for their views and input. Do members wish to comment or will we agree to publish it? It is very comprehensive and supplies additional information. It is a functionary report; it is not political. It is reporting on the fact that the committee made a visit externally. Is it agreed to publish to the report? Agreed.

We have one item of correspondence to consider today. It is a request to appear and give evidence to the committee from the law officer of Irish Environmental Network The correspondence was received from Attracta Uí Bhroin, a manager and law officer in the environment law Ireland initiative. She is also on the board and is a council member of the European Environmental Bureau as a private citizen. She is requesting to appear before the committee to provide evidence, particularly in respect of judicial review. There is legislation promised on judicial review - I do not have a timetable - so, in the context of what has been proposed for the future, we can consider it at that stage. There is no great point in bringing her in now if legislation is coming in the very near future.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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How near in the future? Will it be before Christmas?

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know the answer of when the legislation is promised. I genuinely do not know but I hear it being talked about.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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Last week, we discussed doing that type of session and providing an alternative perspective on the judicial review. We made that agreement last week on doing a session like that for early January, if I am not mistaken. Would she be able to be a witness for that?

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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There will be a few bodies like the Law Society. We will hold it over until January. We will not get to it in the next four weeks.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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She could be a witness as part of that session.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Potentially for January. We might have more information on when the judicial review legislation is coming forward at that stage.

That legislation will go before the justice committee-----

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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Will we get to see it at all?

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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No. This committee has no role in legislation but the justice committee has. If she is talking about judicial review, it should be the justice committee. It is the line committee that will deal with that legislation, not us. Like everybody else, we will get on with the legislation if and whenever it is passed and I have no date for that. We will hold it over. She spoke to committees in the previous Dáil on housing and I would recommend the justice committee as the line committee to discuss legislation. For anybody with an interest in this area and that discussion, we will work with the outcome. However, in terms of getting to the outcome of that legislation on Committee Stage, that will be for the justice committee, not us. That is where most of the conversation in the Oireachtas will take place on judicial review, as well as the Chamber.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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We will be able to attend those committee meetings as members.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, everyone is eligible to attend but it will probably go to the Dáil and the Seanad separately.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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It is also a huge part of our committee with regard to delivery of infrastructure.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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It is.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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I am worried that maybe our reports, whenever our next report comes out, would be missing a big angle. We agreed to this session in February but that is why it is important. Even if the legislation does not come to us, it is still important for how we analyse the overall picture of the infrastructure and what blockages there are. It would be important to have them in regardless of------

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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On the timetable.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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Yes, regardless of whatever committees Ms Uí Bhroin or this group may or may not be attending.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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We will put different groups together and we will obviously have the Law Society and a couple of others who are practising in and have knowledge in the area.

We can put that together but it will be January. Our schedule is fairly booked up until December.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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Thank you.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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We will suspend briefly while we bring in the witnesses.