The first item on the agenda is the election of Vice Chairman. I ask for nominations for that position.
Election of Vice Chairman
I nominate Deputy Alan Kelly to be the Vice Chairman of the committee.
Are there any other nominees?
I nominate Deputy Alan Farrell.
Are there any further nominations?
As more than one nomination has been received I am required to deal with them in the order in which they were received and I will now put the following question: "That Deputy Alan Kelly be elected Vice Chairman of the committee."
Question put.
The Committee divided: Tá, 7; Níl, 4.
Tá: Bobby Aylward, Shane Cassells, Sean Fleming, Alan Kelly, Mary Lou McDonald and Róisín Shortall; Níl: Peter Burke, Catherine Connolly, Alan Farrell and Josepha Madigan.
Question declared carried.
I welcome Deputy Alan Kelly as Vice Chairman. Before moving on to deal with correspondence received and many of the issues arising which members wish to discuss, I welcome the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who will join us for the rest of the meeting. He is accompanied by his parliamentary liaison officer, Mr. Billy Carrie.