I call the meeting to order.
The first item on the agenda is the election of a Chairman. I invite nominations for the position of Chairman of the joint committee.
Election of Chairman
Clerk to the Committee
I propose Deputy David Stanton. I will make no speech or commendation because it is a straightforward proposal.
I second this proposal.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy David Stanton Chairman of the committee and I invite him to take the Chair.
Deputy David Stanton took the Chair.
I thank the committee for electing me. It is a great honour to be elected chairperson of this committee. I welcome newly elected Members to the Dáil and Seanad who have joined the committee. I look forward to working with everyone in a spirit of partnership and co-operation. There is a large volume of work for us to get through and we need to bring our skills and enthusiasm to bear on them so as to make this a productive committee and discharge our functions in an enlightened and efficient manner.
The remit of this committee in the 30th Dáil was very wide-ranging. I pay tribute to its members who left us a legacy of a major body of work on which I wish to build. I will endeavour to be as fair and impartial as I can to all committee members. A united and non-partisan approach in which all members contribute and feel their efforts are worthwhile will give the best results and add value to the parliamentary committee process.
The second item on the agenda is the election of a vice chairperson. I invite nominations for this position.