Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Before I respond, I wish to inform the House that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who I met yesterday, has agreed to and is now in a position to proceed with Committee Stage of the Defamation Bill 2006. The Bill was restored to the Order Paper on 26 September 2007 and will recommence at the beginning of Committee Stage. The previous Committee Stage in February and March 2007 was not completed before the general election. The Bill provides for statutory recognition to be conferred on the independent press council subject to the approval of both Houses, having regard to the criteria set out in Schedule 2 of the Bill. It is proposed to take Committee Stage at 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 December 2007.