As we have a quorum, I wish to call the meeting to order. We are now in public session. The first item on the agenda is the nomination and election of Chairman. I now invite nominations for the Chair.
Election of Chairman
Clerk to the Committee
It gives me great pleasure to propose Deputy Damien English for the position of Chairman. Deputy English is a man of great experience, elected since 2002 and would be an excellent Chairman.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations, I deem Deputy Damien English to be elected and call on him to take the Chair.
Deputy Damien English took the Chair.
I thank Deputy McFadden for proposing me and members of the committee for electing me to the position of Chairman. It is a great honour. I am glad my nomination was not challenged. I look forward to working with all members in a genuine spirit of partnership and co-operation. We all bring different talents and experiences to the table. The committee comprises many new Members and others who have been Members for many years. We have a great team and I have no doubt we will do great work. I am confident we will bring our combined skills, enthusiasm and energy to bear in making this a highly productive committee which discharges its functions in an efficient and enlightened manner.
I welcome all new Members to the joint committee, in particular newly-elected Members of the Dáil and Seanad. The committee structure can be complicated and take up a lot of time but can be very productive. I urge everyone to allow time for the joint committee to function properly. We will do a good job. New Members requiring advice in regard to the workings of the joint committee can contact myself as Chairman, longer serving Members or the clerk in that regard. In my experience, committees are fruitful and carry out a great deal of good work.
I take this opportunity to pay tribute to members of the former Joint Committees on Education and Skills, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Social Protection, the members of which brought their own experiences and knowledge to the workings of each committee. I hope this committee will be equally effective. I anticipate that this joint committee will refer to and build on the valuable work programmes of those committees which identified important national issues that need to be addressed. Many good reports were produced by the former committees. It may be worth our while looking over some of those reports and following up on some of the recommendations contained therein. All former committees, some of which I was a member of, did good work and there is a duty on us to follow through on the work commenced by them. I will endeavour to be as fair and impartial as I can be to all members of the committee. I believe strongly that a united approach, where all members contribute and feel their efforts are worthwhile, will give the best results. I look forward to working with you all.