The first item on the agenda is the election of a Chairman. I invite nominations.
Election of Chairman.
Clerk to the Committee
I propose Deputy Haughey.
I second that nomination.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy Haughey elected as Chairman of the committee. I call on him to take the chair.
Deputy Haughey took the Chair.
I thank the clerk for conducting the election procedure and members for electing me as Chairman. I have been a member of the committee for a number of years and was Vice-Chairman during the last Dáil. I look forward to assuming the role of Chairman. I thank the Vice-Chairmen for stepping into the breach in recent weeks. I also welcome Deputy Moynihan to the committee. We look forward to working with him.
I compliment Deputy Haughey in a very special way. There is no one here more delighted to see him installed as Chairman. He was Vice-Chairman of the committee after the general election in 1997 when I was Chairman. He co-operated with me in every way possible. If I was unavailable for meetings, he was always there and it is an extraordinary turn of events that he is now Chairman. I wish him the very best of luck. As Vice-Chairman, I will engage in the same trading with him when we were in the reverse positions. I wish him many long years of happiness and success. This is only the start of great things for him. That is what he deserves.
My thanks to the Deputy.
On behalf of Fine Gael, I compliment Deputy Haughey on his election. I served with him previously. I am sorry that Deputy Healy-Rae is still not in the position.
I offer my congratulations to the Deputy and wish him every success for the future. I also wish to be associated with the words of thanks offered by Deputy Healy-Rae.
In the last Dáil, Deputy Healy-Rae had urgent business to attend to from time to time in south Kerry and it was always a pleasure to step into the breach when he was unavoidably absent.