We are in public session.

May I make a few brief comments?

Do we need to move into public session?

Yes, I will make a few brief comments.

We are now in public session.

The Minister and I are wanted in the House.

I will not be here.

I have the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, to call upon.

All I know is that we are not available.

I know and appreciate that.

We are here for the consideration of issues that should be covered by the terms of reference of the commission of investigation into the banking crisis and related matters.

Will the Chairman allow us to conclude?

I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. I request, as I always do, that mobile telephones are switched off. I remind members that this meeting will be webcast and mobile telephone signals disrupt the sound signal transmitted for webcasting.

Under the salient rulings of the Chair, members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I ask the Minister for Finance to commence his presentation on the draft terms of reference.

We have a problem.

We had the discussion already.

Deputy O'Donnell and I are due in the House to discuss another Bill.

Yes.

Yes.

We have had a lengthy discussion in private session about both matters. I suggest that the Chairman adjourns this meeting if he wants any participation by the Opposition because we must be upstairs in three minutes.

That is a reasonable request to adjourn our consideration of this issue. We did not have any substantive discussion on the terms of reference in private session but I am quite happy to let the matter proceed to next week.

I thank the Minister.

Will the Minister revert to us with his thoughts about the discussions that we had on the committee inquiry?

Yes, about the committee's own functions.

There is agreement to adjourn the meeting and as there is no other business .

When will this matter be discussed at committee?

I hope we will do it next week.

Very good.

I thank the Chairman.