I call the meeting to order.
The first item on the agenda today is the election of Chairman. I now seek nominations for the position of Chairman.
Election of Chairman
Clerk to the Committee
I nominate Deputy Peadar Tóibín.
Clerk to the Committee
Are there any other nominations? As there are no other nominations, I invite Deputy Tóibín to take the Chair for the remainder of the proceedings.
Deputy Peadar Tóibín took the Chair.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Táim an-bhuíoch díobh as a bheith tofa anseo inniu. Is onóir mhór dom é mar is coiste an-thábhachtach é seo. Tá an-deis againn obair a dhéanamh chun an t-Oireachtas a dhéanamh níos freagraí agus ba mhaith liom go mbeidh an-chuid obair le déanamh againn. Tá dúthlán ann ach má oibrímid le chéile, beidh seans againn an obair sin a shárú.
I thank everybody for giving me this position of Cathaoirleach of this committee. It is a major honour for me to be here in what is a new committee of the Oireachtas, which will develop into an important part of the procedures and activities of Oireachtas Members.
The opportunity we have is incredible in that we have been given several areas for which to develop a remit and of which we are still the author. We will get an opportunity to develop the size, scope and power of each of those areas.
It is also a major opportunity to make the Oireachtas more accountable to the people. It is an opportunity for us to allow people who, I suppose, up until now have been on the periphery of the Oireachtas to gain access to the very heart of the Oireachtas administration.
No doubt we should try to develop a practical, hands-on vehicle that makes a real and serious difference to people's lives over the next while. I have every confidence, from the quality of the TDs and Seanadóirí who are here today, that if we work together in a bipartisan fashion over the coming years, we will be able to achieve that. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir mar gheall ar sin.