Go mbeannaí Dia daoibh go léir agus céad fáilte romhaibh. Apologies have been received from Deputies Ó Caoláin and McHugh, Mr. Eddie McGrady, MP, and Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP. I remind members and those in the public gallery to ensure that all mobile phones and BlackBerrys are switched off. Please take a moment to do that now. I do not want people taking calls or messages, or going in and out during the meeting. Please show respect for colleagues and the meeting itself. Mobile phone technology can cause serious interference with our recording equipment. We must be respectful of officials working in that area. I ask everyone to respect this instruction to ensure that all mobiles are turned off. They cannot be used for any purpose, including messages, during meetings in the Houses of the Oireachtas or any committees.
The minutes of the meeting of 28 July 2009 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.
We will now deal with correspondence. The first letter, dated 16 September 2009, was sent by the Chairman to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, informing him of the proceedings of the meeting of the committee held with IBEC-CBI Joint Business Council on 5 June 2009. A follow-up letter was received from them expressing their encouragement for the upgrading of the N16-A4 corridor, including the Enniskillen bypass.
The second letter, dated 16 September 2009, was sent by the Chairman to Mr. Andy Pollack, director of the Centre for Cross-Border Studies, inviting him to appear before the committee at a future meeting.
The third letter, dated 16 September, was sent by the Chairman congratulating Mr. Niall Gibbons on his recent appointment as the CEO of Tourism Ireland and inviting him to appear before the committee in the future.
The fourth letter, dated 16 September, was sent by the Chairman congratulating Mr. Declan Kelly on his recent appointment as US economic envoy to Northern Ireland, and inviting him to appear before the committee at some stage.
These letters are being circulated for the information of the joint committee. I propose that we note them.