Apologies have been received from Deputy Crawford and Senator McFadden.

Deputy O'Connor expects to be present at 3 p.m.

That is correct.

The minutes of the meeting of 20 February have been circulated to members? Are they agreed? Agreed.

It is proposed that the joint committee continue in private session to deal with some housekeeping matters, before being briefed on the core function transfer programme by officials from the Departments of Social and Family Affairs and Health and Children, and the HSE. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The joint committee went into private session at 2.35 p.m. and resumed in public session at 2.37 p.m.